Almost 15 years after the Mancos girls basketball program last posted back-to-back winning seasons, this group of Bluejays is looking to do something that the previous generation couldn’t quite accomplish – win in the regional round of the 2A tournament.
Mancos advanced to the 2A regional tournament after claiming a runner-up spot in the District 3 tournament, played at Montezuma-Cortez High School.
The Mancos boys Mancos beat Ignacio 41-33 in the 2A District 3 title game and will host the regional round in the state tournament.
The Jays entered the district tournament as the No. 2 seed, earning a bye into the semifinals, where they rallied in the fourth quarter against a feisty Olathe squad and held on for a 42-39 win over the Pirates.
Playing for the district title Saturday against No. 7 Cedaredge, the Jays didn’t quite have the firepower to keep up with the top-seeded Bruins, falling 37-11.But they secured a spot in the field of 32 in the 2A bracket.
Last year’s postseason run never got off the ground as the Jays had to forfeit their regional spot because of COVID. That, and the fact that the Jays start four seniors, gives the 2022 squad the added urgency to make this their breakthrough year.
After a 13-6 regular season, including a pair of late season high-quality wins over Ignacio and Montezuma-Cortez, head coach Kerri Morgan brought her team into the district tournament opening round brimming with confidence.
Even with one of their leading scorers, senior Justina Bayles, unable to play for the remainder of the season, the rest of the squad picked up the slack. Classmate Rhiley Montoya took the game to the Pirates, scoring 10 of her team’s 12 points in a second-quarter push that helped the Jays to a 19-15 lead at the break.
Olathe, who along with Cedaredge, was making their District 3 debut, changed the contest in the third quarter, with junior Delana Mountford spearheading a Pirate rally. Mancos fell cold from the field, while the No. 3 seed visitors amassed 18 points in the frame to take a 33-28 lead to the fourth.
Sophomore Quincy Montoya stole momentum back for the Bluejays, however, knocking in a three-pointer as part of a 11-0 run that gave Mancos the lead back for good, 39-33, midway through the fourth quarter. Senior Makayla Wayman added a baseline lay-up as part of the run, before the Mancos defense stalled out the Pirates’ attempt to rally. A three-point heave at the horn fell short, and the Bluejays officially secured themselves a place in the district title game and the regional tournament.
Sophomore Mandi Peacock, stepping into the starting role vacated by Bayles, played stern defense for the Jays, while providing a handful of important rebounds down the stretch to preserve the win.
Rhiley Montoya led all scorers with 17, while her sister Quincy added 14 points. Wayman chipped in with seven points. Mountford led the way for Olathe with 12 points.
In the championship game, Mancos ran out of steam, as the Bruins’ defense kept Mancos from getting into their offense with their difficult 2-2-1 full court press. The Jays hung around for a quarter, thanks to solid defense of their own and baskets by Rhiley Montoya and Peacock, but Cedaredge limited the Jays to seven first half points.
Montoya hit a triple late in the second quarter to pull Mancos within eight, down 15-7, but that would be as close the Jays would get the rest of the way. Cedaredge was led by 22 points from senior Paige McGovern, while Montoya’s five points led Mancos on a lean offensive afternoon.
Mancos will hit the road in search of a coveted regional round victory, as they await their official pairing, which will be released by CHSAA later this weekend. Cedaredge, as the district champions, will host a regional site Friday and Saturday, March 4-5.
