Foul trouble struck the Ignacio High School boys basketball team for the second consecutive game at the CHSAA Class 2A western regional.
Senior Adison Jones picked up two fouls in the first three minutes championship game against Paonia on Saturday in Grand Junction, but the Bobcats overcame that to win 54-29 to advance to their second consecutive state tournament.
“Austin McCaw came in (for Jones) and did a great job defensively,” IHS head coach Chris Valdez said.
Anthony Manzanares handled the offensive end for the Bobcats.
He scored 10 points in the first quarter and splashed a 3-pointer to open the second quarter.
“That run right there from him really got us fired up,” Valdez said.
Manzanares finished with 15 points, which tied for the team lead.
Both Wyatt Hayes and Adison Jones also scored 15 for IHS (21-2).
Hayes finished with 11 rebounds for the double-double, nine steals and seven assists.
Jones grabbed seven rebounds and made four 3-pointers, three of them in the third quarter to help IHS extend its advantage to 51-25 at the end of the third quarter.
The Bobcats opened the second quarter on a 13-0 run to go up 30-15 with 2 minutes, 3 seconds left in the first half.
The Bobcats will find out their seed for the state tournament Sunday.
“It’s awesome for the effor they put in to do this and to win so decisively at the regional,” Valdez said.
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
