Though the 2022-23 basketball campaign ended far too early for a team as athletic as Bayfield, a measure of consolation came to Wolverine Country recently with the release of the All-Intermountain League teams.
Feared as a scorer, but even more valuable to BHS as one of Class 3A’s top rebounders, senior forward Jackson Queen was voted First Team All-IML in the wake of a 9-13 season. Bayfield was stopped by Yuma in the Region VIII semifinals held in Leadville at Lake County High School.
Senior guard Lance Mazur was named Honorable Mention All-League.
Able to help Ignacio (8-16) reach the Region VII championship out in Peyton, senior guard Eppie Quintana and junior center/forward Gabe Cox both received Honorable Mention distinction.
Bumped up with Pagosa Springs to 4A this season due to CHSAA’s creation of a Class 6A tier, Alamosa junior Brant Jackson was named First Team All-IML as well as boys’ Player of the Year. Head coach Myles Baker was chosen Coach of the Year after guiding the Mean Moose to a 9-1 mark in regular-season Intermountain action, and ultimately a 21-4 overall record after a 65-56 overtime loss to Parker Lutheran in the Class 4A State Tournament’s Great Eight phase.
Bayfield went 2-8 in league this winter; IHS followed at 1-9.
On the girls’ side of things, senior guard Laci Brunson and senior forward/center Harmony Reynolds were both named First Team All-League after helping Ignacio advance to the Region VI semis up in Kersey. The Bobcats finished 11-11 overall and a fourth-place 4-6 in regular-season IML action.
Bayfield (5-15, 0-10) also had two honorees. Senior forward/center Alaysia Kremer and junior guard Genesis Barrera both received Honorable Mention salutes.
A First Team All-League selection, Centauri senior guard Abbey Smith was named girls’ Player of the Year and Troy Reynolds Coach of the Year after the Falcons, who went 10-0 in IML play, ended up 21-3 overall following a 56-39 loss to Colorado Springs St. Mary’s in the Class 3A State Tournament’s Great 8.
With the Final Four being a double-elimination round, SMHS (21-6) recovered from a 33-29 loss against Colorado Springs Christian by beating Ellicott 47-38 in the third-place game. CSCS (25-2) defeated Springs-based The Vanguard School (21-6) in the state championship by a 57-41 margin.
In the 3A boys’ grand finale, Arvada Faith Christian (25-1) downed Salida (25-2) 54-45; Ault Highland (23-4) bettered classification upstart Windsor Charter Academy (21-5) in the third-place game, 79-68.
Additional First Team All-IML boys: Alamosa–Luke Christensen, Kade Jones; Centauri–Chaz Holman, Leighton Curtis; Pagosa Springs – Gunner Dozier, Colt Lewis, Kayson Shahan; Montezuma-Cortez–Austin Wood.
Additional Honorable mention All-IML boys: AHS–Kasey Jones, Jayr Almeida; CHS–Kolten Johnson, Mason Sowards; PSHS – Blake Laner; M-CHS–Tay Wheat.
Additional First Team All-IML girls: Alamosa–Sydney Jackson, Charley Higham, Brooke Gonzales; Centauri–Amaya Garcia, Kailyn Polzin; Pagosa Springs–Chantelle Caldwell, Annie O’Donnell.
Additional Honorable mention All-IML girls: AHS–Mary Masias; CHS–Hannah Curtis, Braelyn Tucker; PSHS – Karsyn Shahan; M-CHS–Savannah Haselroth, Markylla Jones.
