The Nucla boys and girls basketball teams traveled to Mancos for a doubleheader on Saturday at the Bluejays gymnasium, with both teams securing victories by more than 20 points.
The Nucla boys basketball team, ranked third in the 3A/2A/1A San Juan League by Maxpreps, improved to 9-3 overall and 1-1 in league play with their dominant win over Mancos, who at 0-11, are still looking for their first win of the season.
Brycen Rummel led the Mustangs with 13 points, while Austin Garvey and Slade Gillen each contributed nine. James Potts was the top scorer for Mancos with 17 points.
Nucla’s intense man-to-man defense and Mancos’ short roster caused problems for the Bluejays throughout the game, limiting their offensive opportunities.
The Mustangs jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first quarter, but Mancos stayed within reach thanks to solid offensive rebounding, and narrowed the gap to 12-7 by the end of the period.
In the second quarter, Nucla’s fast offense and high-pressure defense wore down Mancos, holding them to just two points for the entire period. Nucla went on a 20-2 run, extending their lead to 32-9 at halftime.
Mancos continued to struggle after the break, unable to convert on open shots or drives as Nucla’s defense remained tough. The Bluejays also faced foul trouble, particularly when Spencer Eschallier was forced to sit because of fouls.
Nucla capitalized on their rebounding advantage, with Rummel, Gillen, and Garvey each scoring four points in the third quarter. The Mustangs extended their lead with an 18-9 run, finishing the third quarter ahead 50-18.
Nucla substituted in their second string at the start of the fourth quarter, and Mancos managed to find some rhythm. Potts hit scored from the 3-point and free-throw line for eight points in the quarter, but Mancos could not overcome the large deficit. Nucla won 58-32.
The Mustangs will continue league play when they travel to Ouray on Jan. 16.
Mancos will look to bounce back as they host Dove Creek on Jan. 14, then travel to Dolores on Jan. 17. After a trip to Bayfield on Jan. 21, they return to league play against Telluride on Jan. 25 and face Nucla again on Jan. 30.
The Nucla girls basketball team, ranked first in the 3A/2A/1A San Juan League by Maxpreps, improved to 9-2 overall and 2-0 in league play with a 60-43 victory over the 1-7 Bluejays.
Darcy Bray led the Mustangs with 17 points, while Lantry Galley and Viviana Zunich contributed 11 and 15 points, respectively. Mancos was paced by freshman Tinsley Aspromonte, who scored a game-high 22 points.
The Mancos girls struggled with a short bench and against Nucla’s full-court press. The Bluejays had limited scoring opportunities in the first quarter, while Nucla dominated under the basket and capitalized on offensive rebounds, and led 18-9 at the end of the period.
In the second quarter, Nucla’s full-court defense continued to stifle Mancos, but the Bluejays managed to convert on some of their limited shot attempts. Despite this, Nucla’s offensive rebounding kept the ball in their hands for much of the quarter, giving them a slight scoring advantage. They outscored Mancos 14-10 in the period, and led 32-19 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Nucla’s fast passes and quick drives tired Mancos, limiting them to just five points. The Mustangs extended their lead to 48-24 by the end of the quarter.
Mancos made a late push in the final period, with Aspromonte scoring 13 of the team’s 15 points. However, Nucla outscored the Bluejays 16-15, maintaining their double-digit lead and securing the 60-43 win.
The Nucla girls will join the boys’ team as they travel to Ouray on Jan. 16.
Mancos will host Dove Creek on Jan. 14 before traveling to Dolores on Jan. 17. After a trip to Bayfield on Jan. 21, they return to league play against Telluride on Jan. 25, and face Nucla again on Jan. 30.
