By Ian MacLaren
For The Journal
Wrapping its busy week with a home matchup against Sargent and a road matchup against Ouray, the Mancos High School boys basketball team left little doubt as to its status as one of the San Juan Basin League’s top teams with two dominant wins.
Against Sargent on Jan. 16, the Bluejays received 17 points from sophomore Connor Showalter and 14 points from sophomore Evan Sehnert in the 61-33 win.
Mancos built a 19-7 lead by the end of the first quarter and extended it 30-15 by halftime. A 19-9 run during the third quarter made it 49-24 before head coach Elijah Knepper put in players from his bench.
Mancos junior Christian Cova scored 11 points, and senior Caden Showalter scored 10.
Sargent was led offensively by junior Kage Pepper, who scored 18 points. No other Farmers player scored more than five points in a contest that showcased the Bluejays’ hard-nosed defensive.
Following up on its win, Mancos traveled to face Ouray on Saturday and walked away with a 60-36 victory.
A balanced scoring attack highlighted the day for the Bluejays as Caden Showalter scored 13 points, Cova scored 12, Connor Showalter scored 11, and senior Anthony Medina chipped in 10.
Mancos led 13-5 at the end for the first quarter and 25-17 at halftime before outscoring Ouray 35-19 in the second half.
Now 8-2 on the season and 2-0 in the San Juan Basin League, Mancos will prepare for a critical road matchup Tuesday against San Juan Basin League powerhouse Ignacio. The Bluejays will then return home to play Ridgway on Saturday, Jan. 25.
