For the first half, the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers played like they were the undefeated state-ranked team, while the 5-0 and Class 2A No. 3 Ignacio Bobcats floundered.
The Panthers played a near-perfect first quarter, holding Ignacio to just two points and crashing the defensive glass, limiting the Bobcats’ second-chance opportunities.
M-CHS keyed its defense around the Bobcats’ two leading scorers, Anthony Manzanares and Wyatt Hayes, holding them each to just four points in the first half.
“We scouted them out, and I’ve coached against them for five years,” Hall said after the game. “I know who their players are, and I knew that we had to do a platoon-thing on Manzanares because he’s an athlete, he runs, he’s fast. Same thing with Hayes.”
Offensively, the Panthers made a point to pound the ball inside and take advantage of their size, working high-low action with post players Luis Perry and Austin Bayles, who each scored four points in the first frame and finished with 14.
“We have to take advantage of Luis’ size, for one, and Austin’s physicality and ability to see the whole court,” Hall said.
The Panthers stayed the course in the second quarter, attempting to slow the game down and grind out possessions in order to limit the high-powered Ignacio offense.
“We knew they were a fast-paced team, and we have to slow it down because we’re not going to keep up with the speed getting Luis the ball,” Hall said.
M-CHS led 21-14 at half, but the Ignacio offense that entered the game averaging nearly 60 points per contest showed up to start the third quarter.
“Ignacio did a good job of changing the tempo back to their favor,” said Hall. “And we couldn’t get out of a little funk that we were in and then once Luis (Perry) got into a little foul trouble it hurt us.”
Igancio outscored M-CHS 28-19 in the third quarter to take a 42-40 lead to start the fourth, and the Bobcats did the damage without second-leading scorer Manzanares, who was ejected for an intentional foul midway through the quarter.
With Manzanares out, Ignacio head coach Chris Valdez tossed Hayes the keys to the car.
Hayes took over the game, scoring 14 points in the third quarter and 11 in the fourth to give the Bobcats a nine-point lead late in the contest. He finished with 29 points.
“There’s nothing you can do against probably the best player in 2A right there. I mean, we played good D, but there’s nothing you can do about it,” Hall said chuckling.
After sitting with foul trouble for most of the third quarter, Perry rattled off eight straight M-CHS points to bring the Panthers within one in the fourth.
The two teams traded buckets and the Panthers hung around, keeping the Bobcats within reach as the clock dwindled, and with under a minute remaining, Bayles scored to pull the Panthers back within one, trailing 58-57.
Ignacio senior Tucker Ward knocked down two free throws to push the Bobcats’ lead back to three with 35 seconds left, and with a shot to tie the game, Jasen Engel’s 3-point attempt came up just short.
The Panthers were then forced to foul, and Ignacio free throws and an M-CHS turnover in the closing seconds sealed the 63-57 win for the Bobcats.
Bayles and Perry led the Panthers with 14 points each, Aron Engel scored nine, Fernandez added seven, and Obed Simental hit two triples for six points.
Even in the loss, Hall said he noticed positive things from his team.
“Our defense is really picking up, and we looked really good crashing the boards tonight,” he said. “Offensively, we’ve never moved the ball like we did tonight.”
“Usually we’re at one or two passes and crank up a three,” he continued. “But now, the kids are starting to get a little more disciplined and starting to fall in line with the offense, and they’ll make the extra two or three passes and we’ll get a wide open shot. And it showed tonight against a very good defensive team.”
