LOVELAND – No team “accidentally” makes it to Loveland. Every one of the eight 2A girls basketball teams that took the floor inside cavernous Blue Arena earned the right to be there.
After their victory over defending champ Sedgwick County, the Bluejays earned the full attention of every team across the small school basketball landscape.
Entering their matchup against top-seeded Merino in the quarterfinals, the Jays carried the belief that anything was in reach, including another giant-slaying upset.
The Rams had other ideas, however, taking control in the second quarter en route to a 61-29 win to move on to the 2A semifinals.
For the rest of the 2A girls field, there was little mystery entering the tournament. The Rams posed the tallest mountain to climb to reach the state championship.
Mancos (18-6) didn’t show any signs of being star-struck in the opening quarter, matching the Rams bucket-for-bucket in the opening eight minutes.
After Bluejays seniors Quincy Montoya and Teya Yeomans knocked down jumpers, sophomore Claire Goodwin put together the next half-dozen points for the Jays to knot the score at 10 after one quarter.
The dozens of Bluejay fans who made the trip to Loveland rose to celebrate their team’s fantastic start after the horn signaled the end of the opening quarter.
The second period, however, was a different story.
Merino (25-0) showcased its gritty full-court press and turned the frame into a track meet, a formula that resulted in the Rams’ unbeaten record. The top seed outscored Mancos 24-7 on the back of senior Makenna Sutter, who scored eight points on a big run that put the Rams in control.
Mancos answered with a Goodwin 3-pointer and jumper from sophomore Aysia Mathews, but the damage was done. Mancos trailed 34-17 at the break.
Merino kept expanding the lead in the second half, with sophomore Kya Piel scoring six of her 14 points. The Rams’ lead extended to 32 after three quarters.
Yeomans scored six of her 10 points in the second half to reach double figures, as Mancos found its offense hampered by the incessant Rams pressure.
Every Bluejay saw the floor as Morgan allowed her bench players to get a taste of Blue Arena in the final minutes, as senior Mandi Peacock brought down several rebounds and steals to inspire the effort.
Goodwin scored a team-high 15 points, while Merino junior Brooklyn Sutter scored 15 points.
Mancos will face fourth-seeded Hoehne in the consolation bracket at 11:45 a.m. Friday. The contest can be heard on 98.7 FM KRTZ and krtzradio.com.
