Able to cut backdoor all night almost at will, senior forward Ellie Seibel posted a game-best 15 points in helping the Ignacio girls win their 2A/1A San Juan Basin League opener Dec. 17 at loop rivals Dolores.
But two shots in particular truly captured the essence of the Lady Bobcats’ triumph, and both came off the hand of senior guard Chrystianne Valdez. The second, occurring late in the 48-30 victory, was actually a misfire but the ball humorously became wedged between the rim and the backboard. And adding insult to injury, it dropped through the net when an official managed to knock it loose.
Her first notable attempt, however, left DHS boss Larry Schwartz with no choice but to use a timeout down 12-6 with 1:58 left in the first quarter after Valdez somehow banked in a three-pointer from the corner in front of the Lady Bears’ bench – giving Ignacio already three hits from long range en route to an 18-7 advantage (after Seibel’s first two close-range strikes) after eight completed minutes.
Despite outscoring their guests 13-12 in the second quarter, Dolores would never get closer than ten points (30-20 at halftime) the rest of the way, as IHS exploded to take the third 15-3 and decisively separate.
Seven-of-11 free-throw shooting during the closing eight minutes came as little comfort to the home team, having been held by the visitors to just one field goal – by freshman forward Aryelle Wright (six points, 4-6 FT) in the third – during the entire second half.
Senior guard Nichole Kibel’s seven first-half points held as DHS’ high count in defeat, senior guard Larissa Umberger (4-7 FT) equaled Wright’s half-dozen and junior wing Madi Archuleta contributed four.
Valdez finished with seven points for Ignacio, as did Avionne Gomez (4-10 FT) before she fouled out with 3:40 left in the game. Guard Cortney Wilson-Baker and forward Miriam Fernandez-Lopez each booked six coming off Shane Seibel’s bench, and forward Gibran Silva scored two to make for an excellent outing for the substitutes.
Running the show from the point guard position, sophomore Hilda Garcia scored five points as IHS improved to 4-2 (1-0 SJBL) heading into the holiday break while Dolores dipped to 3-3 (1-1).
Mirroring the Bobcat boys’ schedule, the Lady Cats are slated to start the 2016 side of theirs Jan. 8 against Ridgway, resuming SJBL work, which then continues at Mancos on the 15th and at Telluride on the 16th.