MANCOS – Former Indiana Pacer Reggie Miller – one of the game’s deadliest marksmen in his playing days – made the simple statement during NBA All-Star Weekend that “shooters shoot” after Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard drained a contest-winning 3-pointer on his final ball of the 3-point shooting competition.
The statement applied to the notion that great basketball players can rise to the occasion and make big shots in clutch moments, no matter the gym or the stage.
Mancos sophomore Claire Goodwin demonstrated she fits the bill, knocking down 11 3-pointers to help the Bjuejays crush cross-county rival Dolores 70-13 on Friday night – all while shooting her way to a school-record 45 points.
The Bluejays also beat Telluride 53-10 the following day, entering the San Juan Basin League tournament with a surge of momentum and a four-game winning streak.
Mancos (14-5 overall, 7-1 in 2A/1A San Juan Basin League play) erupted with a 26-point quarter in the second stanza against Dolores, pushing its lead to 34-7 at the break.
Goodwin’s night was just getting started.
The sophomore buried five of her 11 threes in the third quarter, with her teammates looking to get her the ball, knowing she had something special going.
For its part, Dolores (3-16, 1-7 in league play) entered the game with some recent bright spots in the form of a 50-17 win over Telluride on Feb. 6 and tough 36-34 loss against Ridgway.
The Bluejays posted another dominant day against the Miners (1-17, 1-7 in league play), with Goodwin on pace for another monster scoring output. She had 22 at the break, but the Bluejays altered course and turned to a more balanced attack in the second half. Three other players (Randi Lewis, Haylie Higgins and Mandi Peacock) each scored four or more points.
Mancos enters the district tournament in Telluride as the top seed, with it sights set on a district title and prospective opportunity to host a regional site game in the 2A state tournament.
