Despite its best efforts, the Mancos High School boys basketball team was unable to secure the District championship trophy that it so desired.
After finishing second in the Class 2A District 3 Tournament however, the Bluejays advanced to this weekend's Regional Tournament and in doing so, kept their dream of a state tournament appearance alive.
Bluejays get past Telluride
Opening its District Tournament with a semifinals matchup against Telluride in Cortez on Feb. 27, the Mancos stumbled for three quarters before taking control late and winning 52-40.
The Bluejays led 15-8 at the end of the first quarter and 24-18 at halftime. Telluride trailed 33-26 at the end of the third quarter.
"We came out kind of flat," said Mancos junior Ro Paschal. "We had a little bit of heart in the second half to hold on to that game."
Paschal led the Bluejays with 16 points, senior Daniel Christensen scored 14 and senior Nigel Henry chipped in 11.
With its win versus Telluride, Mancos guaranteed itself a spot in a Regional Tournament.
Bluejays lose big to Ignacio
Playing in the District Tournament championship against Ignacio in Cortez on Feb. 28, Mancos was unable to hang with the hot shooting Bobcats and lost, 59-39.
The Bluejays trailed 11-10 at the end of the first quarter and 30-21 at halftime before being blown out in the second half.
"Our strategy all year has been to get up and down the court," said Mancos head coach Rodney Cox. "We just had too many unforced errors and we came up against a really good basketball team."
Keying the Ignacio victory was the hot shooting of junior Wyatt Hayes, who hit five three-point goals and scored a game-high 26 points.
Hayes played an especially crucial role early in the second quarter when he drilled consecutive three-pointers from four-feet beyond the top of the key to put Ignacio ahead 21-12.
After Hayes drilled the second of his two long shots, Mancos head coach Rodney Cox turned towards the referee with an exasperated expression and called timeout.
"(Hayes) can shoot from pretty much anywhere," said Mancos senior Jayden Peacock. "As soon as he crosses half court, you have to get on him because otherwise he's going to pop one in your face."
Mancos was led by Paschal, who played one of the most physical games of his career and dominated the paint on his way to 18 points.
The normally easy-going big-man was intense from the opening tip and even threw an elbow in the direction of an Ignacio opponent after being fouled early in the first quarter.
"I got a little mad in the game," said Paschal.
Mancos fell to 15-6 with the loss and will enter the Class 2A Region 3 Tournament in Grand Junction as a No. 2 seed. The Bluejays will open against third-seeded Vail Christian on March 6. If the Bluejays win, they will play against Meeker or Ridgway on March 7 with a trip to the state tournament on the line.
"We just need to get better at what we need to get better at," said Cox of his team's plan heading into regionals. "I don't think we're going to face a team as tough as (Ignacio)."
