Dazed by visiting Montezuma-Cortez’s early 3-point shooting, the Ignacio Bobcats rallied to earn a one-point halftime lead, keep it after three quarters and ultimately prevail 55-50 Friday inside IHS Gymnasium.
Junior guard Phillip Quintana keyed the home team’s second-quarter comeback with seven points, then added eight – six via two of his three 3-pointers – during the final frame in totaling a game-high 17. Junior center/forward Gabe Cox followed with 14 points, while senior guard Eppie Quintana and junior guard Devante Montoya each contributed seven.
Freshman guard Ambrose Valdez knocked down a triple and finished with five points, sophomore forward Charlie Pargin booked his four after intermission, and senior forward/center Dylan McCaw made one of his two free-throw attempts.
Sophomore guard Caidin Leonard cashed two of the Panthers’ four first-quarter 3-pointers – helping MCHS build a 17-9 lead – and finished with five treys in totaling 15 points. Senior guard Austin Wood drained two threes and ended up with 12 points, and sophomore guard Tay Wheat (11) joined his ’mates in double figures.
Senior guard Elijah Lee matched Wheat’s one trey – both came during the guests’ promising first quarter – and ended up with five points, junior forward Miles Frost posted four and senior guard Gabe Crowley chipped in three.
All told, IHS (5-12 overall, 1-7 3A/4A Intermountain) led 26-25 at halftime, and 36-35 beginning the fourth quarter.
Chris Valdez’s Bobcats went 6-of-14 from the free-throw line; Michael Hall’s Panthers (6-10, 2-6 IML) finished 5-of-9.
Ignacio will next host 3A No. 4 Centauri (15-3, 7-2) at 4 p.m. Saturday. Montezuma-Cortez, meanwhile, was to travel to 4A No. 8 Pagosa Springs (15-4, 6-3) Saturday.
Trailing MCHS 13-11 after one quarter of varsity girls’ basketball on Friday, Trae Seibel’s crew took control during the second. Outscoring the Panthers 24-8, IHS went into halftime up 35-21 and despite Montezuma-Cortez fighting back after the break – and winning the second half 35-33 – had enough of an advantage to win 68-56.
An ‘Others Receiving Votes’ inclusion in the CHSAANow.com Class 3A Girls’ rankings, the Bobcats’ 68 points was a new season-most.
IHS also had a visit from 3A No. 3 Centauri (16-2, 9-0 IML) slated for Saturday.
Trying to snap out of a four-game slide, M-CHS (4-11, 2-6) was to travel Saturday to PSHS (7-13, 5-4).
