Four games into its season, the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls basketball team has already eclipsed its win total from all of last season.
The Panthers latest victory came at home on Dec. 12 when junior Tayla Topaha scored with under five seconds left to give her team a 32-31 victory over Monticello.
Topaha’s game winning basket was set up by junior point guard Kiselya Plewe, who drove into the length of the court and sliced into the lane before passing for the assist.
“We drew up a play and got the ball in (Plewe’s) hands,” said M-CHS head coach John McHenry. “She drove into the lane, and the defenders collapsed on her. She made a perfect dish and (Topaha) scored.”
The Panthers’ game-winning play came after Monticello scored two free throws with 18 seconds left to take a 30-29 lead. Prior to the Monticello free throws, M-CHS scored five consecutive points to take a 29-28 lead.
“We put a full-court press on with two minutes left,” said McHenry. “We rattled the cage a little bit, and we got the lead. I should have taken the full court press off, but I didn’t, and we fouled. Monticello hit their free throws and that put us behind”
Throughout the early stages of the contest, both offenses struggled. M-CHS scored two points in the first quarter and trailed 12-6 at halftime. The Panthers only first-half field goal came on a three-pointer by Katrina Lee.
“The first half, we could not get a bucket,” said McHenry. “The offense was working well, but we just couldn’t score. When we went into halftime, I said, ‘Hey, we’re doing a lot of things right, but we’re not squaring up and shooting right.’”
Bolstered by two second-half three-pointers by Lee and several layups by Abriana Conklin, M-CHS hung tough throughout the second half. Lee led the Panthers with nine points, Conklin added eight and Plewe and Topaha had four each.
M-CHS alternated between man-to-man and zone defense throughout the game to keep Monticello’s offense on its heels. The Panthers also utilized a successful full-court press.
“We made a commitment to playing a (Class) 3A style of ball,” said McHenry. “We came out in a press and harassed them. (Monticello) got a few fast break points and some lucky toss ups.”
With the victory, the Panthers improved to 2-2 this season after winning just one game last year.
M-CHS will play at home against Shiprock Northwest on Dec. 12 before facing off against Aztec on the road on Dec. 13.
“We’re getting a hold on our offense, so I’d like to add some things to it (this week),” said McHenry. “Boxing out and rebounds will be a focus this week. I’d like to go into Christmas break, 4-2.”