The Bayfield High School girls basketball team had Montezuma-Cortez on the ropes in Saturday’s Class 3A Intermountain League opener at M-CHS, but the Wolverines struggled mightily at the free-throw line and lost, 44-43.
The Wolverines (3-4, 0-1 IML) went 11-of-28 at the free-throw line in the loss, which included a pair of missed free throws to win the game with four tenths of a second remaining. BHS was led by Macee Schulz with 11 points, Aubree Farmer had 10 including a pair of 3-pointers while freshman Riley Campbell scored eight and seven came in the fourth quarter. The Panthers (3-6, 1-1 IML) were led by Dimery Plewe with nine points, Myra Simmons scored eight, as did Hayden Leggett.
Bayfield started the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run as Madison Wells made a 3-pointer from the right wing and on the ensuing possession, Farmer connected from the other wing to give the Wolverines a 32-29 lead. The Panthers countered with their own 3-pointer from Justina Bayles to knot it at 32. The Wolverines would lead by as many as five at 37-32 after Campbell made a 3-pointer of her own, but Cortez went on a 9-2 run to regain a 41-39 lead. From there, it became a free-throw contest, as BHS got within one twice in the final minute.
On Bayfield’s final possession with just under two seconds remaining and having to go the length of the court, Cortez’s Simmons was called for a reach-in foul that sent Carlson to the free-throw line. Her first attempted rattled out after it was halfway down, and her second was off to the right.
The Panthers got out to a 12-7 lead after the first quarter, but Bayfield rallied to make it a two-point game at halftime at 20-18. Bayfield started the second half on a 6-0 run, but the Panthers answered and would take a 29-26 lead heading into the fourth.
Bayfield head coach Josh Kitchen could not be reached for comment.
BHS will host Class 3A No. 4 Alamosa (8-1) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Boys Basketball
Boys BasketballThe Bayfield High School boys basketball team put together a strong second half and outscored Montezuma-Cortez 35-34, but still fell short in its Intermountain League opener with a 66-49 loss Saturday at M-CHS
Teagan Whiteskunk led the Panthers (8-3, 2-0 IML) on the afternoon, while Titus Jackson was right behind Whiteskunk with 20. Blake Keetch scored nine, eight of which came in the second quarter.
The Wolverines (1-9, 0-1 IML) were led by Hunter Bayles who scored a team-high 15 points, Quintan Hunter scored 11 and nine came in the second half, and Crosby Edwards chipped in seven. Cade Carlson also scored six, Kacey Chandler scored four and Landon Kennedy missed his fourth consecutive game with an ankle injury.
“I didn’t think we played all that bad,” said BHS head coach Klint Chandler. “We played good defense and that was one of strengths. We missed some shots to get a little bit closer, but we just got to get ourselves ready to shoot the basketball, and we’re not quite there yet.”
The Panthers got out to a quick lead to open the game as they led 16-8 after the first quarter and stretched it to a 32-14 lead at halftime. The Wolverines had good looks at the basket down low but were unable to get mid-range or 3-point shots to fall, scoring just six points in the second quarter.
After halftime, BHS got more good looks inside but could not cut the deficit, as Cortez’s depth off of the bench helped push the Panthers lead. In the fourth, the Panthers continued to find open looks and held on for the win.
“In the second half, I thought we needed to get a few more post touches and that helped a little bit,” Chandler said. “(Cortez) got their scoring and thought we coudl’ve played a little better on that end of the floor. We let Titus get downhill and so we knew it’d be tough, but we’ve got to keep going. Hopefully we will get better and can come out on the other side.”
The Wolverines will face Alamosa (5-4) at 7 p.m. Saturday.
bploen@durangoherald.com
