Anytime Gabe Cox scores or exceeds his jersey number 21, it is often a good time for the Ignacio Bobcats.
The senior center did just that Saturday night, going off on visiting Pagosa Springs for 10 first quarter points and ultimately a game-high 21 matching his identifying number in fans’ programs.
But on a day where Ignacio honored former coach Lee Larson, skipper of the school’s 1988 CHSAA class A-I State Championship squad (Elbert won the A-II title that season), with induction into its Coaches Hall of Fame, Ignacio’s four other starters combined for just 11 points.
And against Wes Lewis’ crew of disciplined Pirates – ranked No. 4 in Class 4A going in – it just wasn’t enough, as Pagosa Springs won 54-37.
Having seen a 13-8 first quarter lead grow to 17-11 with 5:24 left in the second via two Cox free throws, the Bobcats struggled to get closer than seven points the rest of the way.
Pagosa Springs improved to 11-1 and 2-0 in 3A/4A Intermountain league play. Ignacio fell to 5-5 overall and 1-1 in league play.
By making one of two free throws with 2:36 left in the third quarter, Pagosa Springs senior forward Blake Laner gave the Pirates their first double-digit lead at 33-23, but Ignacio junior forward Charley Pargin’s bank-shot 3-pointer with four seconds left kept the ’Cats within 10 points.
But back-to-back treys – courtesy of junior guard Colt Lewis and senior guard Chase Harper – in the fourth rebuilt Pagosa Springs’ advantage to 46-32, and the guests were able to pretty much cruise the rest of the way, with Lewis and Harper combining to go 3 of 4 from the foul line and Laner logging the last six of his team-leading 15 points.
Lewis ended up with two 3s and nine total points, while Harper and senior Nathaniel Kinsley each hit one 3 and totaled seven points apiece. Pirates senior center Ridge Wilson, initially matched up against Cox and slowed by four personal fouls, managed to score eight points, and sophomore guard Creede Dozier contributed six points off the bench.
Pagosa Springs shot 18 of 27 (Laner went 7 of 13) from the charity stripe. Ignacio finished 4 of 5.
Ignacio will host Bayfield on Thursday.
The Wolverines lost 62-39 Saturday at Centauri.
The Wolverines slipped to 1-9, 0-2 in league play. Statistics for Bayfield were unavailable at press time. Centauri junior Carson Bagwell recorded 18 points.
