’Ballers earn All-IML recognition

Able to help Ignacio reach the Region VII championship out in Peyton, senior guard Eppie Quintana and junior center/forward Gabe Cox both received Honorable Mention All-Intermountain League distinction following the conclusion of the 2022-23 basketball season, which ended with the Bobcats going 8-16 overall, 1-9 IML in the program’s return to Class 3A hoops. 

Bumped up with Pagosa Springs to 4A this season due to CHSAA’s creation of a Class 6A tier, Alamosa junior Brant Jackson was named First Team All-IML as well as Boys’ Player-of-the-Year. Head coach Myles Baker was chosen Coach-of-the-Year after guiding the Mean Moose to a 9-1 mark in regular-season Intermountain action, and ultimately a 21-4 overall record after a 65-56 overtime loss to Parker Lutheran in the 4A State Tournament’s Great Eight phase. 

On the girls’ side, senior guard Laci Brunson and senior forward/center Harmony Reynolds were both named First Team All-League—and just this past week, Honorable Mention All-3A by CHSAA—after helping IHS advance to the Region VI semis up in Kersey. Returning to 3A, the Lady Bobcats ended up finishing 11-11 overall and 4-6 in league. 

A First Team All-League selection, Centauri senior guard Abbey Smith was named Girls’ Player-of-the-Year and Troy Reynolds Coach-of-the-Year after the Lady Falcons, who went 10-0 in IML play, ended up 21-3 overall following a 56-39 loss to Colorado Springs St. Mary’s in the Class 3A State Tournament’s Great Eight. 

With the Final Four being a double-elimination round, SMHS (final record of 21-6) managed to recover from a 33-29 loss against perennial nemesis Colorado Springs Christian by beating Ellicott 47-38 in the third-place game. By a 57-41 margin, CSCS (25-2) defeated Springs-based The Vanguard School (21-6) in in the State Championship. 

In the 3A Boys’ grand finale, Arvada Faith Christian (25-1 overall) downed Salida (25-2) 54 to 45; Ault Highland (23-4) bettered classification upstart Windsor Charter Academy (21-5) in the third-place game, 79-68. 

MORE FIRST TEAM ALL-IML BOYS 

Alamosa—Luke Christensen, Kade Jones; Centauri—Chaz Holman, Leighton Curtis; Pagosa Springs—Gunner Dozier, Colt Lewis, Kayson Shahan; Montezuma-Cortez—Austin Wood; Bayfield—Jackson Queen; Ignacio—none. 

MORE HONORABLE MENTION ALL-IML BOYS 

AHS—Kasey Jones, Jayr Almeida; CHS—Kolten Johnson, Mason Sowards; PSHS—Blake Laner; M-CHS—Tay Wheat; BHS—Lance Mazur. 

MORE FIRST TEAM ALL-IML GIRLS 

Centauri—Amaya Garcia, Kailyn Polzin; Alamosa—Sydney Jackson, Charley Higham, Brooke Gonzales; Pagosa Springs—Chantelle Caldwell, Annie O’Donnell; Montezuma-Cortez—none; Bayfield—none. 

MORE HONORABLE MENTION ALL-IML GIRLS 

CHS—Hannah Curtis, Braelyn Tucker; AHS—Mary Masias; PSHS—Karsyn Shahan; M-CHS—Savannah Haselroth, Markylla Jones; BHS—Alaysia Kremer, Genesis Barrera. 

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