Somehow able to withstand Montezuma-Cortez senior guard Taylor Whited’s opening and closing onslaughts, Ignacio’s girls came out on top Tuesday evening, Jan. 28, 44-37.
Nailing two 3-pointers and totaling eight points in the first quarter – after which the visiting Lady Panthers led 10-4 – then booking another trey and seven points in the fourth, Whited ended up with a game-high 20 points before fouling out during the final frame inside IHS Gymnasium.
But with senior guard Marissa Olguin sinking two triples and making four of eight free throws during the third quarter, the Lady Bobcats maintained the pace of their game-shifting rally sparked during the second stanza, when IHS pressed ahead and took a 22-19 lead back to their locker room at halftime.
All told, Ignacio (6-8 overall, 2-2 3A/4A Intermountain) outscored M-CHS 19-6 during the third quarter – more or less capped by a technical foul called against M-CHS senior Reyaunna Jones with 0:10.7 left – and powered into the home stretch up by a daunting 16 points, 41-25.
Hoping to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat, Montezuma-Cortez (3-10, 0-4 IML) stayed in the fight by making seven of nine FTs – the team finished 8-of-12 overall (Ignacio was 14-of-22) – but had little production from the field after Whited’s exit.
Junior guard Keeley Clarke also fouled out, having scored just two points – as did Jones, senior Shaylynn Bia and senior Kayden Lee. Recording five points, freshman Kyndall Schmitt was closest to Whited offensively, while junior center Siana Elliott made three of four FTs for her three points, and sophomore Shoshawna Washburn one of two FTs for her one.
Olguin, meanwhile, finished with an Ignacio-most 13 points. Junior guard Alyssa Atencio netted a three and totaled seven points during IHS’ second-quarter surge and ended up tallying nine. The only Lady ’Cat to strike from the floor during the first quarter, senior forward DaLaney Wesner finished with eight points. Sophomore Maliyah Martinez ended up scoring seven points, junior Juliann Avila five and senior Victoria Brown two.
IHS will next travel on Friday, Jan. 31, to Alamosa (9-5, 2-2 IML) and remain in the San Luis Valley to visit Monte Vista the next day. M-CHS will host MVHS (7-5, 1-2) on the 31st, then welcome Bayfield the next day as league action intensifies.
