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Ignacio’s Lawrence Valdez feels the sting of an early end to the 2016-17 season late in the Bobcats’ Western Regional loss to Del Norte in Gunnison.
Ignacio’s Lawrence Valdez (11) stretches a shot towards the hoop and away from Del Norte’s Kade Glover (left) during Western Regional action in Gunnison.
Ignacio’s Johnny Valdez (13) tries a difficult baseline shot between Del Norte's Charlie Hayes (35) and Jeff Stevenson during Western Regional action in Gunnison.
Photo Credit: Joel Priest | Special to the Drum
Photo Credit: Joel Priest | Special to the Drum
Photo Credit: Joel Priest | Special to the Drum
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Bobcats stopped one win short of State

Friday - March 17, 2017 by Joel Priest | Special to the Drum

Del Norte drubs Cats in regional finale

Draining two of his team’s five three-pointers, junior guard Johnny Valdez led Ignacio with 11 points, but it wasn’t enough to help IHS advance to the Class 2A State Championships as the Bobcats fell 55-34 to hot-shooting Del Norte in the Western Regional, Pod ‘G’ finale, March 4 in Gunnison.

Tiger junior forward Carlos Parra pumped in eight field goals – including four threes – and eight free throws in eight attempts, torching a depleted Ignacio roster for 28 points inside Western State Colorado University’s Paul Wright Gymnasium as DNHS forcefully clinched a spot in the ‘Great Eight.’

Sophomore guard Kade Glover logged nine points in support and senior reserve forward Hafen Campbell chipped in six, but with Parra surprising Ignacio for two triples and ten of DNHS’ 15 first-quarter points, IHS (15-7 overall) was forced to play from behind and never came any closer than 32-25 during the third quarter after back-to-back breakaway baskets by sophomore guard Lawrence Valdez.

He would total eight points, equaling junior center/forward Kai Roubideaux. Junior guard Cole McCaw booked five and freshman forward Ocean Hunter chipped in two. Well-watched around the three-point arc, lone senior Joaquin King was held scoreless and joined McCaw and Roubideaux in finishing with four personal fouls.

Senior Zach Leckler contributed five points to Del Norte’s cause, classmate Jeff Stevenson scored three, and senior Charlie Hayes and sophomore Andy Diaz each recorded two.

At the free-throw line, the Tigers were 18-of-25 (9-10 in the fourth quarter) while the ’Cats were 3-of-5.

IHS finished the season 15-7 overall, while DNHS finished 21-6 after a 45-37 loss to Paonia, a 61-38 win over Fowler, and ultimately a 47-46 loss to Akron (20-6) in the Championships’ fifth-place contest.

Holyoke (22-4) edged Lower Platte Activities Association archrival Sedgwick County (24-2) 44-41 for first place inside the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, while Ault Highland (25-1) downed PHS (22-4) 60-53 for third. Winners of the previous three Class 2A titles, Sanford (16-9) went 0-2 at the tournament and joined FHS (20-5) in not scoring top-six placing status.

 

2A BOYS’ WEST REGIONAL, POD-G CHAMPIONSHIP

Western State Colorado University, Gunnison, Colo.

Del Norte 55, at IGNACIO 34:

Del Norte (15-14-10-16) 55: K.Glover 3 2-4 9, C.Parra 8 8-8 28, J.Stevenson 0 3-6 3, Z.Leckler 2 1-1 5, C.Hayes 0 2-2 2, N.Rodriguez 0 0-0 0, A.Diaz 0 2-2 2, I.Petersen 0 0-0 0, H.Campbell 3 0-2 6, D.Stephenson 0 0-0 0, N.Cisneros 0 0-0 0, J.Archuleta 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 16 18-25 55. 3-POINTERS: Parra 4, Glover. TOTAL FOULS: 11. FOULED OUT: None.

IGNACIO (9-10-6-9) 34: C.McCaw 2 0-0 5, J.King 0 0-0 0, L.Valdez 3 1-2 8, J.Valdez 4 1-2 11, K.Roubideaux 3 1-1 8, C.Seibel 0 0-0 0, O.Hunter 1 0-0 2, K.Schurman 0 0-0 0, J.Nanaeto 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13 3-5 34. 3-POINTERS: J.Valdez 2, Roubideaux, L.Valdez, McCaw. TOTAL FOULS: 21. FOULED OUT: None.

– compiled by Joel Priest

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