Ignacio High School girls basketball head coach Shane Seibel knew his team would take some lumps with its tough nonconference schedule.
CHSAAnow.com Class 3A No. 2 Pagosa Springs delivered a big one Friday night, defeating the Bobcats 68-36 in Ignacio for the Bobcats’ third consecutive loss.
IHS (1-5) only trailed by four after the first quarter, but the Pirates outscored the Bobcats 24-5 in the period to give themselves some breathing room.
Pagosa Springs (5-0) went inside early and often to use its size advantage and outrebounded the Bobcats 30-24.
“The key for us was being physical in the post and limiting them to one shot,” Seibel said. “That’s when we had success.”
Unfortunately for the Bobcats, that collapsed their defense and allowed Pagosa Springs to make six 3s on the evening, four by Anissa Lucero. She led the Pirates with 11 points in the game.
Pagosa Springs post player Taylor Strohecker added 10 points and six rebounds to form an inside-out combo that was difficult to guard.
“It’s hard to adapt to everyone and to trust each other to know ‘if you get me, I’ve got your back,’” said Cloe Seibel, daughter of Melanie and Shane Seibel.
Seibel led IHS with 16 points, while adding five rebounds and three steals. Her younger sister, Ellie Seibel, scored nine points with 10 rebounds for the Bobcats.
“They played well – big games from those sisters,” coach Seibel said.
IHS needed to have players step up since they were playing without junior Sky Cotton after she suffered a knee injury against Bloomfield.
Seibel was happy with the way his team battled and hung with Pagosa Springs outside of two or three tough stretches that decided the game.
The Bobcats will take a short winter break before resuming play Jan. 9 against Belen (Belen, N.M.) in Kirtland, N.M., for the Lady Bronco Invitational.
Then they’ll move into league play Jan. 18 at Dove Creek.
“That’s why we play the tough preseason that we do,” coach Seibel said. “To prepare us for our league.”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
