Team cohesiveness is like a beating heart. When pumping with rhythm it helps the body flow in perfect unison.
The Ignacio High School girls basketball team is the body and seniors Chrystianne Valdez and Ellie Seibel are the Bobcats’ heart, pushing, motivating and leading the way to 17 victories in 2016.
“We’re exactly like a family, like a beating heart,” said Ellie Seibel, daughter of Melanie and head coach Shane Seibel. “If someone is off then it won’t work the way we want it to.”
The tightly knit group is like sisters where team dinners are regular and laughing is abundant.
Valdez and Seibel have been playing basketball together on the same team since the third grade. While the two are longtime friends, their competitiveness toward each other has always been a motivating factor for their success.
“It’s nice to have teammates that are also your friends,” said Valdez, daughter of Cindy and Ignacio boys’ head coach Chris Valdez. “Ellie is a great athlete. She has incredible post moves, and she surprises everyone all the time. She really executes her moves, and she knows about how to read offenses. Her rebounding is out of this world. Everything she does is incredible to me.”
To keep a steady season, a team needs each player to contribute equally to get the most. Sophomore Hilda Garcia leads the team with 14.7 points per game, but Seibel is the team’s leading rebounder with 5.1 rebounds to go along with 8.6 points per game.
Valdez’ worth comes more on the defensive end. She’s second on the team with 2.3 steals and 2.1 assists per game, but she has a 1.85 steal-to-turnover ratio and her 1.65 assist-to-turnover ratio is best on the team.
“She brings amazing defense,” Seibel said. “What she does on the court shakes up the other team, and we wouldn’t be where we are without her.”
While most of the attention goes to the Ignacio boys team, the girls have quietly put together a 17-4 overall record and earned a No. 1 seed in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A Region 1 Tournament, which tips off at noon on Friday at Adams State University.
“We’re on Cloud 9,” Valdez said. “It’s almost a bigger thing for us than the boys.”
The “Ladycats” as they’re known throughout the Ignacio community steamrolled through the District 3 tournament by outscoring their opponents 141-38, which is something this team has done all season; however, it wasn’t an easy road to the successful season.
In Ignacio’s first game, the Bobcats lost their home opener against the Pagosa Springs Pirates, then lost on the road at Centauri two games later. But since those two early losses, Ignacio went 16-2 the rest of the season with losses coming to 3A Durango and Norwood, which finished the season at 21-1.
The Norwood loss left a serious impression on Ignacio. It was game where the Bobcats learned many things about themselves. Since the loss, they’ve been more physical rebounding and on defense. The result was holding their next opponents under 30 points in each game through the early parts of postseason play.
In just his third year, coach Seibel believes his seniors are getting the concept of what needs to be done to get a championship brought to Ignacio.
“They’ve grasped what I’m trying to teach, their basketball IQ has grown for sure,” said coach Seibel. “I think (the girls) had a bond in the making. They really pushed each other to perform well academically and in sports. They have a competitive nature with each other that blossomed into a senior respect for one another. They’ve really grown to look at each other and appreciate one another.”
When basketball is done, both girls have plans post-high school. Both are fast tracking their final year at Ignacio by taking dual credit college courses. Valdez is planning on playing volleyball at Fort Lewis College next year and wants to major in psychology. Seibel is taking courses at Pueblo Community College’s Durango Campus to be a flight paramedic.
The legacy that Valdez and Seibel will leave will be similar to the ones that were left before them.
“Avionne (Gomez) and Hilda (Garcia) are getting their acceptance and being included,” said coach Seibel. “(Valdez and Seibel) are true leaders by leading by example.”
The two senior leaders have had basketball flowing through their veins for quite sometime. Both girls are daughters of basketball coaches so their competitive nature has be bread into them.
According to Valdez, while she was on her third-grade team, she didn’t want to play basketball, but her love for the sport grew instantly. She admits that having a coach for a father isn’t easy sometimes.
“It’s had its ups and downs, but he motivates me” said Valdez. “Sometimes I didn’t want to go and practice, but he always pushes me. He’s a confidence booster and a role model for me. I look up to him and his team. I learned a lot from him, I can talk to him about basketball and I’m mature enough to know what he’s talking about.”
Seibel has a very similar experience; she’s been coached by her father since she was the same age as Valdez, and because of basketball coach Seibel and her daughter have a great relationship.
“I absolutely love it, we have more of a connection,” said Seibel.
The lessons that the teachers have taught were handed down to their daughters, heeding the lessons and the direction, and the result is success.
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
Ellie Seibel
Who is your favorite athlete?: Shoni Schimmel, WNBA player for Atlanta Dream.
What is your favorite sports movie?: ‘Love & Basketball’
what song is stuck in your head?: Love yourself by Justin Beiber.
which celebrity crush do you have?: Justin Beiber
do you have any pets?: A weiner dog named Sophie.
what is your favorite outdoor activity?: Hiking
Which teacher has had the greatest impact on you?: Mrs. Fjerspad, IHS civics teacher prepared me for college.
where would you like to visit?: All over Europe.
where is the worst place to travel for an away game?: Norwood
do you have any hidden talents?: Singing in the shower.
Chrystianne Valdez
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE ATHLETE?: Allison Stokke, pole vaulter from UCLA
what is your favorite sports movie?: ‘Remember the Titans’
Do you have any pets?: A cat named Charlie.
what is your favorite outdoor activity?: Hiking
what teacher has had the greatest impact on you?: Mr. Kimbal, IHS math teacher and track coach.
where would you like to visit?: France
where is the worst place to travel for a game?: Norwood
Do you have any nicknames?: Chrys or Jordan (middle name).
Favorite restaurant?: Zia Taqueria
do you have any hidden talents?: I like to write and draw, I’m big into art.
