Given the unusual ups and downs Ignacio has experienced so far in the 2018-19 season, if there ever was a time for Nucla’s varsity to try stunning the vaunted, but at times vulnerable Bobcats, and even possibly gain the program a tidbit of revenge for the famed Feb. 20, 2010 (a record-shattering 144-35 IHS win) engagement….It passed the Mustangs by.

Facing instead an eight-man JV roster (with at least six ’Cats having seen some varsity time this winter) Saturday, Jan. 26, at home, NHS’ best got an amazing 28 points from sophomore Tyler Wytulka—who was just 2-of-8 from the free-throw line—in dealing the guests a 56-43 defeat.

IHS actually led 16-14 after a promising first quarter, but went into halftime trailing 24-20 and into the final frame down 38-28 before Wytulka scored ten of Nucla’s clinching 18 points.  Junior Dustin Galarza booked 12 points for the Ponies, and senior Caleb Smith contributed eight.

Scoring nine of Ignacio’s 12 total points during the second and third quarters, JV/varsity freshman guard Gabe Tucson drilled four three-pointers (NHS netted only two) and racked up a team-high 21 points in the loss.  Sophomore forward Dylan Labarthe, another JV/V ‘swinger,’ chipped in ten points and senior JV/V guard/forward Randy Doyebi five.

Ahead on the schedule for Adam Tucson’s boys will be second go-rounds with both Ridgway (Feb. 1, IHS Gymnasium) and Telluride (2/2, SunUte Community Center), with the latter expected to again offer strong opposition after sinking a reported 12 three-pointers on Jan. 19 inside THS’ MinerDome.

Results from the JV’s scheduled Jan. 29 road trip to 4A Durango were unavailable at press time.

Idle from competition since a 57-53 win Jan. 19 at Telluride, the Bobcat varsity will tip off its 2/1 run with Ridgway standing 6-7 overall, and 5-2 against all 2A/1A San Juan Basin League opposition…other than Nucla.