After two more close losses, the Mancos Bluejays girls basketball team entered Christmas break hopeful that improvements will translate into victories.
POOR THIRD QUARTER
DOOMS MANCOS
Opening last week at home against Monticello on Dec. 17, the Bluejays were undone by inconsistent play in the third quarter, losing 42-33.
After falling behind 11-4 after the first, the Bluejays hung tough throughout the second, which ended with Mancos trailing 19-11.
Looking to establish themselves in the third, the Bluejays fell apart, allowing Monticello to extend its lead to 35-18 at the end of three.
"We let them come out real hot, and we didn't look real with it," said Bluejays coach Mallory Morgan.
With the game all but in the books, the Bluejays made a run in the fourth, but the deficit proved too great to overcome.
Leading Blue jay scorers included senior Brandi Bundy (12 points) and junior Maya Bonde (6 points).
"There's something about that team, we just couldn't get out of a slump," said Morgan. "We decided to show up the last 4 minutes."
BUNDY'S BIG GAME
ISN'T ENOUGH
Matching up against the Dolores Bears on Dec. 20, the Bluejays received a huge performance from senior Brandi Bundy, yet fell just short, losing 53-51.
Bundy came out on fire, drilling four first-quarter three-pointers for a 16-10 lead after one.
"She really got us going," Morgan said.
After pulling ahead by as much as 12 in the second quarter, the Bluejays' intensity slipped, and by halftime, the Mancos lead was 30-27.
Haunted by fouls in the third quarter, the Bluejays let Dolores pull ahead 41-40 at he end of three quarters in route to the 53-51 loss.
Bundy led Mancos in scoring, netting 25 points.
The Bluejays fell to 1-5 on the year, yet Morgan remains optimistic.
"For us to score 51 points, that's big," she said. Hopefully, we will continue getting better after the break."