Most who entered “The Jungle” on Valentine’s Day eschewed the standard reds and pinks, opting for attire of orange or blue instead.
No love lost in a fiery atmosphere from two teams looking to earn county bragging rights for another year.
With neither team willing to give an inch in a pair of down-to-the-wire contests, Mancos produced enough big plays to post a doubleheader sweep of the host Panthers, winning the girls game 54-52 before the boys followed with a 61-56 victory.
The playoff atmosphere presented a prime opportunity for both programs to shift their mindset for the upcoming weeks, where dreams of postseason runs await the Bluejays and Panthers.
For the Bluejay girls, the victory presented tangible evidence that the Jays will be a major force in the district tournament. After a three-week stretch that head coach Kerri Morgan recognized as uncharacteristic of her team – going 3-for-4 over their previous seven outings – Mancos looked to turn the county rivalry game into an opportunity to catch their stride again.
Right from the opening tip, Mancos (12-6, 5-2 2A/1A SJBL) looked to take the game to M-CHS, building their confidence by attacking the middle with intensity. Junior Quincy Montoya went off in the first half, scoring half the Bluejays points as Mancos built a 26-19 lead after two quarters.
Panthers junior Savannah Haselroth also compiled a game to remember, keeping M-CHS (4-13, 2-7 4A/3A IML) in the game with nine first-half points.
The Jays looked to put the game away in the third quarter, as freshman Claire Goodwin tallied nine of her team-high 20 points, while junior Teya Yeomans established her presence on the interior with a pair of buckets as Mancos expanded the lead to 15.
“We moved the ball well on offense, which allowed us to get the ball to Teya more effectively,” said Mancos head coach Kerri Morgan, “which opened up the gaps so we could drive to the basket.”
Just when it appeared as if Mancos had their third consecutive win over M-CHS securely in their pockets, M-CHS put together a charge in the fourth quarter. Junior Markylla Jones attacked the basket, earning trips to the free-throw line as the Panthers brought the game back within single digits with four minutes to go.
Haselroth and classmate Kayce Tom scored buckets to shave the deficit further, and suddenly, the Panthers sensed that they may be able to complete the comeback. However, Mancos answered with just enough from the free-throw line, dropping in six fourth-quarter free throws to keep their noses in front at the final horn.
“We got stagnant in the fourth quarter on offense,” said Morgan of her team’s blood pressure-raising finish, “but we kept grinding, and never quit until the final buzzer.”
Montoya finished with 18 to join Goodwin in double figures, while Yeomans added nine points in the win. Haselroth finished with a game-high 23 points for M-CHS, while Jones added 13 points, and Tom contributed nine.
“This is the team that we saw before the holiday break,” reflected Morgan, “and even in some of our recent losses, we’ve been able to learn from those games, which can help us as we head to the postseason.”
Mancos, now assured of their third consecutive winning season, will face Dolores for their league and regular season finale on Friday, Feb. 17, in the Bluejays Fieldhouse.
“We know that this program has come a long way over the past few years,” added Bluejays head coach, thinking about the program’s rise, “and that’s because of the young women willing to work hard in the gym – and we feel like we’ve deserved this.”
M-CHS, meanwhile, has Ignacio at home on Thursday night for their final regular season outing. District play for both teams will kick off the following week.
The Bluejays boys picked up their sixth consecutive win, finding a late 6-0 run to defeat the Panther boys for the third straight meeting, scoring a 61-56 win.
Mancos (13-5, 7-1 2A/1A SJBL) led at the break, 32-28, behind 19 combined points from sophomore Kaiden Wyatt and junior Andrew Jaime. Panthers senior Elijah Lee posted one of his strongest offensive outputs, answering Bluejays surges with big buckets of his own.
M-CHS (6-12, 2-7 4A/3A IML) edged out in front with a balanced third quarter, outscoring Mancos 18-13 to take the lead. Senior Isaak Lewis drained a pair of triples as part of the run to get the hosts out in front.
The Jays answered the bell, though, as junior Brian Veach and Panthers junior Miles Frost traded buckets during a back-and-forth final frame. The Panthers held a 54-53 lead thanks to Frost’s final points of the night, but the visitors came up with several big drives to the rim, with junior Chris Medina and Jaime providing decisive shots in a run that would put the Bluejays in front for good.
Four Bluejays, led by Veach’s 17 points, would reach double figures, with Wyatt and Jaime each scoring 13, while Medina added 10. For the Panthers, Lee’s 14 points led the way, while Frost added a dozen, and Lewis scored 11 points in the losing effort.
The Bluejays face Dolores on Friday, Feb. 17 to finish the regular season, while M-CHS has a home contest against Ignacio on Thursday, Feb. 16 before both programs steer into postseason play.
