Two key injuries in the first quarter of the season opener slowed down the Class 2A seventh-ranked Ignacio Bobcats in a top-10 showdown Saturday at No. 3 Sanford.

Ebonee Gomez and Monika Lucero, two key Bobcats, went down Saturday, but the Ignacio High School girls basketball team wouldn’t back down without a fight.

Jayden Brunson scored 12 points to lead IHS (0-1), but it wasn’t enough in a 51-41 road loss to Sanford (3-0).

Sanford entered the game with game experience already with a 62-22 home win against Custer County on Thursday and a 63-34 home triumph against Mancos on Friday.

The Bobcats proved a worthy challenger, but junior power forward Cheyenne Caldon scored a game-high 16 points to lead Sanford to another home victory.

Sanford junior point guard Asia Caldon added another 10 points, while sophomore Makenzie Reynolds finished with nine.

Also for Ignacio, Laci Brunson finished with nine points, as did Charlize Valdez. Avaleena Nanaeto scored seven in the loss.

IHS will return home and await work on the injuries to Gomez and Lucero before a 5 p.m. Friday home opener against Pine River rival Bayfield (0-3).

jlivingston@durangoherald.com