What one Jackson started Monday night inside BHS Gymnasium, another Jackson started even better.
Unfortunately for the hosting Wolverines, Alamosa started so well that even their energized third-quarter comeback couldn’t quite catch the Mean Moose in 3A Intermountain League boys basketball action.
Bayfield junior forward Jackson Queen, who’d gotten the night’s scoring started with a three-pointer, canned his second trey – and seventh in two games, counting five Friday at Centauri – with 6:00 left in the third, bringing BHS back to 27-25. But a triple by AHS senior Donovan Ramirez, plus later back-to-back Ramirez layups rebuilt the visitors’ lead to 39-29 with 2:17 remaining. A three by junior Kasey Jones all but shattered the home towners’ hopes as it increased AHS’ advantage to 42-30.
And though Queen and fellow junior post Caden Wood managed to close the gap to 42-34 entering the final frame, Bayfield would get no closer than 47-39 the rest of the way – when Queen fouled out with 4:28 left – and 49-41 in a 55-41 loss.
“Our fouls killed us. And turnovers – we’ve got to fix that,” he said. “We should have won this game; we came back to within two. ... Just too many turnovers.”
And far too much Brant Jackson. Younger brother of graduated Moose standouts Ian and Chad, Jackson repeatedly pierced Bayfield’s zone defense either with ball in hand or seeking to clean up a rebound, and racked up 14 of Alamosa’s 25 first-half points.
Bayfield defended Jackson better after intermission, but he’d still log a game-high 20. Held to just three points before halftime, Ramirez would patiently total 13, with nine coming from beyond the three-point arc. Junior Kade Jones also ignited during the third and fourth quarters for AHS (11-3, 4-0 IML), registering nine of his 11 points.
Going 6 of 8 from the free-throw line, senior guard Isaac Ross totaled 13 points for BHS (3-9, 0-3). Queen joined him in double figures with 10. Wood contributed seven points before fouling out with 1:59 left in the contest. Junior Lance Mazur also finished with seven – five of which immediately chopped Alamosa’s 25-17 halftime lead to 25-22 early in the third quarter.
“I did think there was improvement from the Centauri game, for sure,” Queen said, alluding to Bayfield’s 59-38 loss to the fifth-ranked Falcons. “A little bit. But we need to pick our intensity up; that’s killing us too.”
Up next, the Wolverines host Pagosa Springs (10-5, 3-2) on Friday, then visit Alamosa Saturday. Meanwhile, the Moose will next host Centauri (12-1, 3-1) on Friday before Round 2 with Bayfield.
