Six quick points by sophomore guard/forward Cayson Burcham kept the Ignacio boys’ comeback hopes alive Tuesday night, Jan. 28, but visiting Montezuma-Cortez’s 14-point pad proved too much to deflate within the game’s remaining 5:36.
And when time expired, the Panthers had managed to up their lead to an impressive 16 points in prevailing 77-61.
“We had some lapses, but most of the time we were playing pretty good D,” said M-CHS head coach Michael Hall. “And Ignacio played great tonight; they’re a physical team, but our boys just stepped up to their challenge and I think we answered what they wanted to bring to us. Knocked down big shots and moved the ball very well tonight.”
“Our boys played hard … there’s nothing more I could ask for. The shots just weren’t falling tonight,” IHS head coach Trae Seibel said. “We went 11-for-28 from the field, especially around the basket, but the boys showed tremendous heart and effort against a really good team; I don’t take that away from them.”
Right from the outset it seemed that whenever the Bobcats made a move on the scoreboard, the Panthers had a response – and showed that might be the case during the very first minute. Ignacio’s D.J. Hendren and Trace Crane each emphatically blocked one of 4A M-CHS’ first two shots, but after Crane was called for a shooting foul on the latter, then was hit with a technical foul for questioning the ruling, M-CHS senior guard Tay Wheat cashed four consecutive free throws.
Taking a feed from junior guard Ambrose Valdez, Burcham brought the 3A ’Cats back to 15-9 with a bucket and 2:25 left in the first quarter, only to see Wheat drain a three-pointer off an assist from senior guard Caidin Leonard. IHS junior Sonny Flores struck back with a trey set up by senior reserve Marquise Cibrian, but the Panthers answered by going on a 7-0 spree.
Down 25-12, Ignacio began the second quarter with senior Charley Pargin assisting on a Burcham basket, then netting a transition layup of his own, and Valdez turning a steal into another two points – cutting the guests’ lead to 27-18. But helped by a trey by junior reserve Jaris McDonald, Montezuma-Cortez (11-4 overall, 3-1 3A/4A Intermountain) went on an 8-0 run.
Crane would bury a late three, only to see Leonard drain one at the other end, increasing M-CHS’ lead back up to 43-27 with 1:05 left until halftime – which began with the Panthers up 43-29.
The Bobcats (7-8 overall, 0-4 IML) managed to claw back to as close as seven points during the third quarter, with a Burcham triple closing the gap to 47-40, and a Valdez putback deuce making the score 54-47, but a three-ball by sophomore Trey Hall rebuilt the visitors’ lead to 63-47 going into the fourth and final frame.
“You know, Centauri beat us … and now we’re 3-and-0 (in league play) after that,” Michael Hall said. “So I’m feeling pretty happy with how things are going. This was a great road win; Ignacio’s a hard place to play in.”
Ending up 5-of-8 from the free-throw line, Wheat totaled a game-high 18 points. Leonard one-upped Wheat’s three threes and finished with 14 points, and junior Trace Hartsoe tallied 13. Led by sophomore Conner Rosenbaugh’s 10 points and freshman Ah-dae Lang’s eight, M-CHS won the bench battle 26-12.
Burcham ended up with 15 points to pace Ignacio, and Pargin totaled 12. Crane registered 11 points, while Valdez and Flores each scored seven and Hendren four. At the charity stripe, the Bobcats finished 11-of-14 and the Panthers 12-of-24.
Montezuma-Cortez will next host 3A Monte Vista (8-4, 1-2) on Friday, Jan. 31, while Ignacio will visit 4A Alamosa (2-12, 0-4). AHS fell on the 28th at Centauri (15-0, 5-0), 58-41, while MVHS rolled 73-45 at nonleague 2A Sargent.
