IHS’ fast start leaves Sargent little chance 

Racing out to a 20-10 lead after one quarter of play Friday night, Dec. 15, the Ignacio Bobcats increased their advantage to 33-17 at halftime, forcing 2A Sargent to play from behind on their home court. 

And though the Farmers, undefeated going into the non-league game, fought back after intermission, the 3A ’Cats did enough to win the third quarter 21-18 and then more or less coasted through the fourth to score a solid 64-48 road win. 

Certainly impressive, considering IHS had lost 67-42 at home to 2A Mancos the night before. 

With IHS getting contributions offensively from its regulars as well as its reserves, senior center Gabe Cox was credited in the scorebook (which contained irregularities, compared to the aforementioned by-quarter totals reported by SHS personnel) with 14 points, and senior guard Trajan Garcia sank two three-pointers in registering 11. Senior guard Phillip Quintana also hit two threes and finished with ten points, senior guard Devante Montoya booked nine points and sophomore Trace Crane eight. 

“We’re playing a lot more players than we usually do because they’ve got to learn,” Ignacio head coach Chris Valdez had said after the loss to MHS, “and I’ve got to find out who can play and who can’t. It’s kind of a new group … but I can’t just sit there and play one group of kids; I’ve got to figure out who we’ve got and who’s going to be able to help us during the season.” 

SHS junior Fernando Venzor reportedly netted eight three-pointers and racked up a team-leading 24 points. Junior Lucas Garcia (13 points) joined him in double figures, and senior Trenton Paskett (9 points) was close. Senior Hayden Lester scored only two points but pulled down a reported 13 rebounds (11 defensive). 

Having improved to 4-3 overall (and, including a win at Del Norte and a home loss to Sanford, 2-1 against teams from the 2A/3A Southern Peaks), IHS will next see action on Saturday, January 6, at Monte Vista before then beginning Intermountain League work on the 12th and 13th – versus 4A-level members Alamosa and Pagosa Springs, respectively. 

Also, a SPL member, MVHS improved to 4-3 overall just before the holiday break with a last-minute 56-51 road win Tuesday, Dec. 19, over 3A-level IMLers Bayfield, coached this season by former Ignacio assistant Damon White Thunder and assisted by former ’Cats Bryce Finn and Dylan Labarthe. 

“We’ve got Ignacio next,” said Monte Vista head coach Presley Garcia, “a great program with all their history. So, we’ve just got to take this and ride the momentum. Keep going, one day at a time.”