IHS girls prepping for State, Round-of-32
Never has a sub-.500 record looked so good.
Well, at least as far as qualifying for the postseason is concerned.
Thanks in large part to the strength of their 2024-25 schedule, featuring a powerhouse Class 3A team (Centauri) and two strong 4As (Pagosa Springs, Alamosa) all in their league, Ignacio’s Lady Bobcats not only tasted enough success this winter to crack the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index’s top 32, but finished higher up in those calculations than perhaps expected.
“I was very surprised,” head coach Travis Nanaeto said, following Monday evening’s practice – which most of his players were probably also surprised to be attending. “For being a first-time head coach, you know, it’s awesome. I was happy.”
Elevated within the safe zone of Class 3A Girls’ Basketball State Tournament qualifiers and given the No. 29 seed in the bracket, IHS not only finished rated above Granby Middle Park (12-10), Arvada Forge Christian (8-15) and Fort Collins Liberty Common (8-15), but also above excluded teams with better records – such as No. 34 Edgewater Jefferson (13-8 overall), No. 35 Rye (9-13) and No. 37 Highlands Ranch SkyView Academy (10-13).
However, the Lady Bobcats (8-14 overall, 4-8 3A/4A Intermountain) will now face possibly their toughest opponent in 4-seed Cedaredge. First place in the Western Slope League this winter with a 14-0 mark and standing 23-0 overall, CHS – which went a tamer 8-6 in WSL action, and 14-10 overall last season – promises to be one of the top contenders for the classification’s crown (after having placed fifth in 2A back in 2022) and will definitely push IHS to the max.
Basic familiarity with the Lady Bruins’ methods, however, could work in Ignacio’s favor.
“We’ve played them many times,” said Nanaeto, alluding to multiple IHS-CHS battles in seasons past, “so we kind of know their style of playing. That’s a big plus; I’m actually glad we landed in that spot.”
Tip-off time is set for 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 7. On the other side of the Region IV bracket, No. 20 Monte Vista (11-11, 5-7 IML) will try to topple No. 13 Yuma (11-12, 5-5 Patriot); the day’s two surviving squads will then square off the next afternoon at 2 p.m.
Beginning what could be his team’s last week of work, Nanaeto indicated Monday’s practice went well.
“As soon as I walked in, the girls were wanting to watch (film of) Cedaredge, and then we got to playing some offense and defense,” he said. “Everybody was in a happy mood; they’re excited to be playing again. And I knew the girls could (qualify) towards the end (of regular-season play); they’re peaking at the right moment.”
LAST TIME OUT
Ignacio wrapped up regular-season work Tuesday afternoon, February 25, hosting aforementioned Centauri. And though the Lady ’Cats fared relatively well in the first quarter, trailing 12-8 after eight minutes, things fell apart in the second stanza as the Lady Falcons outscored IHS 17-0 and raced into halftime up 29-8, en route to a 52-22 victory.
Juliann Avila led Ignacio with eight points, Victoria Brown scored five, Marissa Olguin and DaLaney Wesner scored four apiece, and Alyssa Atencio scored one.
Braelyn Tucker scored 12 points for CHS (now 20-3, 11-1 IML) and Joselyn McCarroll seven as 12 of the 14 uniformed Lady Falcons chipped in at least a point.