It’s a perennially difficult trip, taking on a pair of state tournament aspiring squads on their home floor. M-CHS battled step for step with Alamosa and Centauri on their 3A Intermountain League travels, ultimately falling in both contests.
Head coach Mike Hall’s boys led for the majority of their encounter with the Mean Moose but conceded the lead in the fourth quarter in a heartbreaking 48-47 defeat. The following afternoon, M-CHS (4-8, 0-4 3A IML) gave state-ranked Centauri headaches for three quarters, but the Falcons pulled away in the fourth to win, 63-40.
In their loss to Alamosa (10-3, 3-0 3A IML), the Panthers pounced on the Moose in the second quarter, building a double-digit lead, thanks to a three-pointer barrage. Senior J.T. Carver led the way with 13 points, including three triples, to go along with 13 from junior Austin Wood.
The Panthers held a one-point edge heading into the fourth quarter, but couldn’t quite hold on. Senior Trinidad McDonell added seven points, while Sawyer Smith fired home six.
Against Centauri (12-1, 3-1 3A IML), the Panthers stayed within a stone’s throw of the Falcons using a strong day from Smith, who broke into double figures with 12 points. McDonell added a trio of three-pointers, including one that brought the Panthers within four points early in the third quarter. However, Centauri then outscored the Panthers 32-13 to seal the win.
On the girls’ side, head coach Brad Wright’s team ran into the top two squads in the IML, falling in their contests 63-31 to Alamosa (8-5, 3-0 3A IML), and 64-30 to Centauri (7-6, 3-1 3A IML). The losses drop M-CHS to 6-5 on the season and 0-3 in league play.
The Montezuma-Cortez girls will need to turn around quickly, as they face Pagosa Springs twice this week – once for a makeup date – beginning with a Wednesday, Feb. 2 home encounter, before a trip to visit the Pirates on Saturday. Sandwiched between will be a Thursday date with Dove Creek on the road.
The boys’ schedule is lighter, as they prep for a rematch with Pagosa Springs on Friday, Feb. 5, looking to avenge a 63-43 home loss from two weeks ago.
