As the marathon of the 2024-25 regular season nears its conclusion, excitement and exhaustion was on full display Friday night with big comebacks helping to set the stage for the finishing sprint.
Montezuma-Cortez led by a 30-24 margin at halftime, and appeared to have control of the tempo against the Pirates. However, a sizable Monte Vista run in the third quarter put the Panthers down by nine heading to the fourth quarter.
The visitors answered the bell, however, and stormed all the way back with a huge final stanza, escaping a Monte Vista buzzer-beating attempt to tie. Recent wins have buoyed the Panthers (17-5, 9-2 IML) to No. 11 in the 4A rankings in the CHSAA Seeding, and M-CHS will look to close out the regular season with momentum as they travel to Bayfield on Friday night.
The Panthers looked down and out after the host Pirates built a 15-point halftime lead and led by more than 20 in the final period. However, a frenetic rally by the Panthers pulled them within eight in the closing stages, only to run out of time to complete the comeback.
The loss leaves the Panthers (6-16, 2-9 IML) in the 33rd spot in the CHSAA Seeding and Selection Index after the weekend’s action, meaning that their regular season finale against Bayfield on Friday night is a must-win for Brad Wright’s squad.
The Bulldogs trailed for virtually the entire way against their former 1A district nemesis, and even a 23-point fourth quarter wasn’t enough to complete the rally from a double-digit deficit. Dove Creek (16-6, 10-1 SJBL) suffered their first defeat in their last 13 outings, and the loss sets up a winner-take-all contest against Ridgway on Thursday for the outright San Juan Basin title.
The Bulldogs fell a few notches in the 2A rankings as well, sliding to No. 17 in the CHSAA Seeding.
For the DC girls, Ouray did not field a team for their contest, so they will look to close out the regular season with a trip to Ridgway, as well. The Bulldogs (16-5, 8-2 SJBL) currently sit No. 16 in the 2A field in the CHSAA Seeding.
