The Sydney Hughes show rolled from Meeker to Grand Junction on Sunday.

The Ignacio High School Bobcats were just extras.

Hughes scored 21 points and snatched six steals in leading the Meeker High School girls basketball team to a 61-47 win over IHS in the first round of the CHSAA Class 2A western regional Friday in Grand Junction.

“She really was a tough matchup for us,” IHS head coach Shane Seibel said. “She’s been there, done that, and she acted like it.”

Hughes and the Cowboys set the tone early with their full-court press, forcing nine turnovers in the first quarter en route to a 20-11 lead.

The turnovers piled up to 14 by halftime for IHS (17-5), and they trailed by 19.

“They came out really aggressive. We came out really tentative,” Seibel said.

Meeker (17-5) didn’t let up, and the Cowboys advanced to the regional championship game where they’ll play Cedaredge for a chance to go to the state tournament in Pueblo next weekend.

Ignacio’s season ends in the regional semifinals for the second consecutive year. The Bobcats last made the state tournament in 2013.

Freshman Hilda Garcia led the Bobcats with 15 points, while Ellie Seibel scored nine.

The loss ends the IHS careers of seniors Amya Bison and Sky Cotton, but the Bobcats will return three of their top four scorers next season.

“I’m proud of (Cotton’s) leadership,” coach Seibel said. “It’s going to hurt, and I’m going to miss her, as she graduates and hopefully gets an opportunity to play at that next level.”

The Bobcats will bring back an experienced team next season that knows what it’s like to lose in the regional tournament two years in a row.

“The girls have nothing to be ashamed of. They were one of 16 teams left standing,” coach Seibel said. “I think they understand what it takes to get over the hump.”

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