Thus far this season, the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys basketball team has struggled mightily against Southwest League opponents.
The Panthers came on the road against Grand Junction Central on Feb. 7 when M-CHS struggled down the stretch in route to a 51-48 loss.
Trailing 49-48 with less than one minute left in the game, the Panthers surrendered a layup to fall behind 51-48. Over the next 30-plus seconds, Jonathan Walck and Taylor Wilson narrowly missed three-point field goals that would have tied the game and the clock expired.
“It was a tough game and it was pretty much even the whole way,” said M-CHS head coach Michael Hall. “We had some chances at the end, but fell just short.”
M-CHS trailed 27-26 at halftime and 41-38 entering the fourth quarter.
Less than 24-hours before losing to Central, the Panthers travelled to Grand Junction High School and were outgunned, 88-53. Despite the lopsided loss however, Hall said that he was pleased with the Panthers effort.
“Offensively, we were very patient and worked the ball inside,” said the Panthers head coach. “We actually scored the ball well in all four quarters, but Grand Junction is tough.”
Senior forward Walter Parker led M-CHS with 12 points and Walck, Wilson and Konnar McGee each scored 10.
With their record now at 5-12 on the season, M-CHS will prepare to face Durango at home on Feb. 10. The Panthers will then play at home against Montrose on Feb. 13 and at home against Fruita Monument on Feb. 14.
Hall said that in order for M-CHS to qualify for the playoffs, the team would likely have to win two of its remaining three games.
“I just want my boys to come out and play hard,” Hall said. “When we were over in (Durango), we let their crowd get to us. Hopefully the crowd on our side will help us out. We have to find a way to win two of our last three games.”
