With no fewer than four essential players – between visiting Ignacio’s and Mancos’ rosters – attempting to balance aggression and self-restraint during a heated third quarter Thursday night, it was evident the former 2A San Juan Basin League girls’ basketball rivals’ clash wasn’t destined for an aesthetically-pleasing ending.
Able to slice and pare MHS’ 24-16 halftime advantage all the way down to 34-31 entering the fourth frame, the now-3A Bobcats never could complete the comeback – even after Jay junior Teya Yeomans became the first of three individuals to foul out with 6:21 remaining.
Unluckily for IHS, both Yeomans’ deterrent Solymar Cosio and guard Laci Brunson – whose three-pointer late in the third had closed the gap to three points – were whistled for their respective fifths not long after, and Mancos (5-1, 0-0 2A/1A SJBL) managed to earn a shaky 49-42 home win.
Going 7-of-10 from the free-throw line, Jay freshman Claire Goodwin totaled an impressive 22 points and Yeomans registered an even dozen before her disqualification. Junior Quincy Morgan-Montoya scored nine points, fellow juniors Mandi Peacock and Chloe Endres each chipped in two, and sophomore Jenna Wilson another two.
Booking eight points during the fourth quarter and five in the third, senior Harmony Reynolds led Ignacio with 13 points, despite picking up her fourth personal with 5:55 still left in the third. Brunson ended up with 12 points, junior Darlyn Mendoza-Lechuga contributed eight and sophomore Marissa Olguin five. Cosio totaled just three points and fellow junior Maci Barnes came off the bench to score one.
Exhibiting little battle fatigue inside IHS Gymnasium the next night, however, the ’Cats recovered by smashing 2A Sargent 52-23. Leading the Farmers 25-14 at halftime, Ignacio (5-2, 0-0 3A/4A Intermountain) effectively put the game away by winning the third quarter 17-3 to carry a 42-17 advantage into the last eight minutes.
Recording the Bobcats’ entire 10-point fourth-quarter offensive output, Reynolds finished with a game-high 16. Brunson again breached double figures with 11, including nine points in the third quarter, and Olguin ended up with eight.
Cosio and Mendoza-Lechuga each tallied six points as IHS rolled emphatically into the holiday break.
Freshman Angelise Sandoval led SHS (1-4, 0-0 2A/3A Southern Peaks) with 12 points, including the guests’ only three-pointer. Senior Megan Peterson scored five points while senior Stephanie Johnson chipped in two, as did juniors Bailey Asbell and Azzy Lister.
