Despite having four junior-varsity regulars promoted Tuesday night because of a flu bug sapping the varsity roster's strength, the Ignacio boys were still too much for Mancos and won 55-41 on the road.
Junior guard Johnny Valdez pumped in a game-best 25 points, and also led the Bobcats' defensive effort with six steals.
Classmate Cole McCaw recorded four thefts to go with 13 points (he hit three three-pointers, and Valdez two) and a quality eight assists. Junior center/forward Kai Roubideaux scored six points, sophomore guard Clay Seibel five and junior guard Daniel Weaver three.
Freshman guard Keegan Schurman, one of the call-ups for the contest, sank a trey in the second quarter as IHS' 15-5 lead after one quarter grew to 31-11 through two. Also coming up from JV for the game were guard Ty-Wren Bear Medicine and forwards Jonas Nanaeto and Dermarr Harlan.
6'4" freshman center Caden Showalter led the Blue Jays (4-10 overall) with 15 points, 14 coming after halftime as fatigue became more formidable a foe for Ignacio inside the Mancos Performance Center. Mancos junior guard Jake McKie had nine points (six after halftime) and junior forward Griff Huver six (all after halftime).
Having improved to 8-3 overall, 6-0 in the 2A/1A San Juan Basin League, the 'Cats were set to visit Dolores (7-6) Thursday night. The team travels to Norwood on Saturday.
