The Bayfield High School girls basketball team almost pulled off a stunner Friday night in a Pine River rivalry game at Ignacio High School.
The Wolverines got as close as 34-28 of the host Bobcats late in the fourth quarter. But two baskets from Shelcie Gosney, who scored a game-high 14 points, clinched a 38-28 win for Class 2A eighth-ranked Ignacio (1-1).
The Bobcats were without the help of starters Ebonee Gomez and Monika Lucero, who were injured in last week’s loss at No. 2 Sanford.
Bayfield’s comeback came in stunning fashion after Ignacio opened the game on a 17-0 run and led 17-4 after one quarter. The lead extended to 26-12 at halftime, as Jayden Brunson hit a pair of 3-pointers and had eight points for the Bobcats at the break.
But Cayanne Carlson and the visiting Wolverines (0-4) continued to fight. Carlson finished with 10 points, while Madison Wells had eight and Abby Tate finished with six. Wells did all of her damage in the second half and hit two 3-pointers.
It was the defense of the Wolverines that held IHS to only 12 points in the second half. Carlson and Wells applied heavy pressure on the Ignacio guards, still adjusting to life without Gomez and Lucero.
Brunson finished with 12 points, and Charlize Valdez was the next leading scorer for IHS with five points.
Gosney shouldered the load for IHS, as the Bobcats worked to establish her in the paint. Gosney has returned from knee surgery a year ago.
Ignacio will host Dolores in its league opener at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Bayfield (0-1 3A Intermountain League) will play at 4 p.m. Friday in a league game at Alamosa.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
