Defense leads Ignacio past Purkat’s Dolores Bears

By John Livingston

Tuesday, Feb 9, 2021 10:54 PM Updated Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021 1:50 PM

McCaw, Finn both play for Bobcats

Ignacio’s Brady McCaw worked his way to a team-high 16 points Tuesday in a home win against Dolores.

Travis Prior/Special to the Herald

Ignacio’s Gabe Tucson slices through the Dolores defense on Tuesday at IHS.

Travis Prior/Special to the Herald

Ignacio’s Bryce Finn played one game after he hyperextended his left knee and scored nine points against Dolores on Tuesday at IHS.

Travis Prior/Special to the Herald

Ignacio’s Brady McCaw couldn’t be slowed down by the Dolores defense on Tuesday night, as he scored a team-high 16 points for the Bobcats.

Travis Prior/Special to the Herald

The Ignacio High School boys basketball team was elated to have its full roster available Tuesday night.

After an injury scare Saturday against Bayfield, senior Bryce Finn was able to start against Dolores in the Bobcats’ league opener played at home Tuesday.

Senior guard Brady McCaw, who played limited minutes Saturday after missing Friday’s game against Montezuma-Cortez, also was able to play regular minutes through a sore right Achilles. With their two senior leaders on the floor, IHS controlled the game to win 50-39.

“I thought our team defense was the key,” IHS head coach Chris Valdez said. “We had good switches and help all night. We got a 14- or 15-point lead there in the fourth. We started playing a bit of keep-away and not attacking the basket. We turned it over a few times late in the game to lead to easy baskets, but we hung in there for the most part.”

Ignacio’s Bryce Finn tries to defend Dolores’ Kevin Purkat on Tuesday in a San Juan Basin League game at IHS. Purkat scored a game-high 17 points in a loss for the visiting Bears.

Travis Prior/Special to the Herald

Senior guard Kevin Purkat scored a game-high 17 points for Dolores (2-2, 1-1 San Juan Basin League). McCaw finished with 16 points for IHS, while Dylan Labarthe had 13 points and five steals. Finn finished with nine points.

IHS (2-2, 1-0 SJBL) will play two more league games Friday and Saturday at Ouray and Ridgway, respectively.

“We are going to do two practices Thursday to get the guys ready for what we saw from those other teams,” Valdez said. “There is no more time to get in shape right now. We have to be ready to go Friday and Saturday, and every week is like this from here on out with three games a week.”

jlivingston@durangoherald.com