Beginning last Saturday's game with a 14-2 burst was impressive enough for the Wolverines, considering Jeff Lehnus was slightly concerned about his boys' resiliency in the wake of the previous evening's game, a "quality" three-point win over Jefferson Academy. Even more impressive was that when Bayfield needed another intimidating explosion, they recreated it.
Starting the second half on an 18-2 run, triggered by Hayden Farmer's and Keyon Prior's initial three-pointers from the same corner, BHS authoritatively separated from Gunnison to finish 2-for-2 at the Buena Vista Invitational.
"Actually, I think we came out with more speed; we were a lot quicker," Farmer said. "It's just how you react, bouncing back from one game, and we bounced back a lot better."
With two points coming via his second in-game dunk in as many contests, 6'4" junior Ryan Phelps' 18 points paced four Wolverines scoring in double figures as BHS ultimately led 57-36 at the third quarter's end and crushed the Cowboys 72-44 inside BVHS' Dorothea Wille P.E. Complex. "We wanted to give everything we've got," said senior Brian Mashak, "do everything we possibly could."
"Whether you beat a really good team or.don't 'play down' to a team that you should beat, both are wins in their own different way," Lehnus said, comparing the rout with the 50-47 defeat of the Broomfield-based Jaguars.
"So I walk away from this weekend real pleased. We've got a lot of work to do, but it's a start!"
Mashak and sophomore Turner Kennedy each finished with 10 points against GHS, and Prior totaled nine to give the starting five a strong 59 points combined. But even more pleasing to the boss was his reserves' combined 13 (Cade Killough 5, Carl Heide 5, Dax Snooks 2, McKay Wells 1) as nine of his 10 players got into the scoring column.
"When we got in that foul trouble, yes, they did creep back in," said Lehnus, acknowledging that seven first-quarter team fouls helped give Gunnison (0-5 overall) its opportunity to rally, "but never overcame us. I thought our bench contributed really nicely."
"We just got in foul trouble, and our subs helped us out a ton," Farmer (12 points) agreed. "Then when the second half came we were guns-blazing again, and we finished hard."
On Dec. 9, Killough and Heide had registered Bayfield's seven bench points against Jefferson Academy, while Phelps' 21 led all in the tense battle.
Three came on a three-pointer which put BHS up 19-10 early in the second quarter, and two came on a subsequent drop-step flush past Academy senior Justin Barlow, producing the largest advantage either side would hold.
The game had been tied at 10 after one quarter, and the Wolverines' lead would be reduced to 25-22 through two. Jumpers by Mashak (8 points) and Farmer (6) helped get the squad going in the third, but with senior Trever Ballard netting seven of his JA-best 15 points, the Jaguars only trailed 37-34 as the fourth quarter began.
And despite the Jaguars eventually getting a 1-and-1 from Ballard to take a 40-39 lead, Phelps promptly countered with a 1-and-1 of his own and the sides would each total 13 points in the final quarter. But Bayfield (2-2 after drubbing Gunnison) booked the deciding three within the penultimate 90 seconds.
Jefferson Academy senior Joe Rodriguez managed 12 points and Barlow 11 in defeat, while Prior contributed eight to round out the victors' scoring.
And though their team somehow outclassed the Wolverines at the foul line (14-of-18, compared to 12-of-22) on Day 2, GHS seniors Trenton Cribari (12 points) and Drew Hanks (10) were the only Cowboys reaching double digits.
"We still could do a lot better job in our...patience on offense, execution," said Lehnus. "Also, how do we play without getting in foul trouble? And still too many turnovers for my liking right now. So the list is still long, which is good; every team is focused on progress, and that's the goal."
Up next, BHS will visit 2A San Juan High School tonight from Blanding, Utah, then host 1A Monticello, Utah tomorrow. SJHS was off to a 3-1 start before welcoming struggling in-state 1A programs Monument Valley and Green River on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
