CORTEZ – If head coach Mike Hall learned anything about his youthful team in the 2023 portion of the schedule, it’s that they’d battle for a full four quarters.
Montezuma-Cortez High School needed every bit of that grit to outlast Bayfield in the latest edition of the Intermountain League rivalry – holding off the Wolverines in a back-and-forth 74-65 victory in their lone home action of the January schedule.
Having to mull their four-game losing streak that ended 2023, the Panthers wasted little time putting that memory behind them with an energetic start to league play.
There was no question that, in spite of a 1-7 start to the season, Bayfield would put the Panthers (4-5, 1-0 4A/3A IML) to the test, with 16 of their previous 20 encounters decided by a single-digit margin. The Wolverines started brightest, canning three of their 10 three-pointers in the first quarter on their way to a 17-13 lead after eight minutes.
When the offense wasn’t fully clicking in the early minutes, Hall turned to his bench to provide a spark, and the reinforcements came through in a big way. Senior Gael Garcia, along with junior Ridge Hathale and sophomores Jaris McDonald and Wyatt Oliver combined for 17 points, helping the Panthers surge back in front 37-31 at the half.
Bayfield answered with more threes from junior sharpshooter Cooper Rodrick to open the second half, and almost instantly, the Panthers lead disappeared. The visitors edged in front with a 12-3 run to open the third quarter, all before Panthers freshman Trey Hall caught fire.
The first-year scored 10 of his game-high 21 points in run that kept M-CHS out in front, before senior Easton Hartsoe and junior Tay Wheat tallied big fourth quarter buckets that preserved a lead, even after Rodrick’s sixth three pulled the Wolverines level midway through the fourth.
Bayfield ran cold down the stretch, while Oliver and sophomore Trace Hartsoe scored backbreaking lay-ins to beat the Wolverine trap, and the Panthers made their free throws down the stretch to put the game out of reach in the final minute.
Junior Caiden Leonard posted his strongest showing of the season with a 14-point tally to complement Hall’s big night. Wheat added 14 of his own to round out the Panthers double-figure scorers.
Bayfield (1-8, 0-1 4A/3A IML) finished with four in double digits, led by the 18 apiece from Rodrick and sophomore post Vincent McCullough. Junior Lincoln Williams added 13, while sophomore Kingston Martinez scored 10.
The Panthers opened the league slate with a solid home victory, knowing that their path in league play will involve a treacherous remainder of January. M-CHS travels to Alamosa on Jan. 13, before trips to Centauri and state-ranked Pagosa Springs await on the schedule. The Panthers next home game won’t come until Groundhog Day, when Alamosa visits The Jungle.
