Bayfield High School’s boys basketball team opened up play in 3A Intermountain League with a 60-58 victory against Centauri Friday night in La Jara.
“Down the stretch, we did what we had to do and got it,” BHS head coach Jeff Lehnus said.
“It’s always a tough atmosphere here and (Centauri) always seems to play with high energy. It’s the first league game of the year and it’s always good to start the league with a win. ... We’re happy with the win, but we’re not satisfied.”
Centauri (7-3, 0-1 IML) got off to a strong start, but Lehnus said the Wolverines (6-4, 1-0 IML) maintained their composure to keep the lead.
In the third quarter, Centrauri’s Martin Garcia hit some deep 3-pointers to keep pressure on the Wolverines. But Bayfield knocked down some clutch free throws and shots late in the game to secure the win.
Hayden Farmer led the Wolverines with 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Ryan Phelps had another double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
Bayfield will host Monte Vista (4-5, 0-1 IML) at 5 p.m. Saturday.
The Ignacio High School boys basketball team turned up the defensive pressure in the second half to pick up a 67-30 victory against Ridgway (1-7, 0-2 2A/1A San Juan Basin League) Friday night in Ignacio.
“We were really lax on defense and kind of played a sagging, trapping zone, but when we switched to our man-jump, we got a lot more aggressive late in the game, especially late in the third quarter,” Ignacio head coach Chris Valdez said. “We started hitting some more shots and got some transition baskets out of it.”
The Bobcats (5-3, 4-0 SJBL) turned a 31-16 halftime lead into a 50-27 advantage after the third quarter. The big lead allowed Ignacio to play some of its bench players in the second half, and Valdez said getting the role players extended minutes will help them find more rhythm with the starters.
Lawrence Valdez led the Bobcats with 22 points, and added four assists and three steals. Kai Roubideaux had 16 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Johnny Valdez added eight points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals, and Cole McCaw had eight points and six steals.
The Bobcats will host Telluride (1-6, 0-2 SJBL) at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Girls basketball
Girls basketballThe Ignacio High School girls basketball team stayed perfect on the season and dominated Ridgway (0-7, 0-2 SJBL) for an 84-7 victory Friday night in Ignacio.
“These girls are playing great team basketball and competing for each other,” IHS head coach Trae Seibel said. “As a coach, it’s really fun to watch. ... When you have games like this, it’s all about honoring the game. And we honor the game by playing our game, and our game is playing up-tempo, pressing on defense, smart on the offense and finding mismatches.”
Siebel pulled his starters for all but a minute and a half in the second, third and fourth quarters, and praised the play of Allisianna Baker-Marquez, Jayden Brunson, Sidney Cox, Ebonee Gomez and Kiana Valdez.
Morgan Herrera led the Bobcats (7-0, 4-0 SJBL) with 20 points, Ebonee Gomez had 16 points, Avionne Gomez added 15 and Baker-Marquez chipped in nine points.
The Bobcats will host Telluride (1-4, 1-0 SJBL) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Bayfield High School girls basketball team (1-6, 0-1) dropped its Intermountain League opener 58-21 to No. 1 Centauri (10-0, 1-0 IML) Friday in La Jara.
“We definitely knew it was going to be tough,” BHS head coach Josh Kitchen said. “We struggled in the first quarter and they put some points on us, but after that it was pretty straight up. I think it ended up being something like 27-19 after that first quarter, granted they didn’t have their A team in the whole time. But I was really proud of the girls for competing with them.”
Tiarra Christensen led the Wolverines with eight points. Jordan Lanning added six points, and Kitchen said Lanning and Mikayla Barnes provided strong rebounding throughout the game.
Bayfield will host Monte Vista (3-5, 0-1 IML) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
kschneider@durangoherald.com
