What a difference a year makes for the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls basketball program.
Coming off a big learning curve from last winter, the Panthers have a new approach this season, and with a 67-15 victory over Dolores, find themselves brimming with confidence.
A handful of seniors anchor the roster for second-year head coach Brad Wright, who has utilized an offseason workout regimen to good effect to prepare the Panthers (3-2) to come out of the gates strong.
Against Dolores, M-CHS used midcourt pressure to force early turnovers, and cashed in on the break. Senior guard Brianna Comisky helped catalyze the Panthers defense, while operating with the point guard duties to make effective passes that set up her teammates for easy buckets.
Comisky scored seven points in the Panthers’ early 16-0 run to set the tone in the contest. Meanwhile, sophomore Savannah Haselroth made life for the Bears guards difficult all evening, scoring a number of her team-high 16 points on fast break opportunities. Comisky would also break into double figures with 14 on the night.
“We've really developed our maturity as a team,” said Wright, “and Brianna (Comisky) is a great stabilizing presence for us out on the court.”
The Panthers led by 18 after the opening quarter and 43 at the break, maximizing their offensive possessions and limiting turnovers to balloon the lead.
Perhaps the most telling number of the night, though, was the nine different Panthers who found their name in the scoring column. Senior Taiah Wilson and junior Carlie McClellan each added seven points, including several putbacks for the Panthers, who owned the offensive glass.
Kaydence Tom and Siren Utecht both scored six points, as Wright’s squad used incisive passing to find the open teammate. Kalea Hunt and Moshai John added five points apiece.
“We've got good shooters,” said Wright, “and we want those girls to have the freedom to read the situation and make decisions, and that has helped boost confidence for everyone out on the floor.”
Dolores (1-3) finished with six points from Chandler Smith and five from Mikayla Puett, as they started to attack the basket with increased confidence in the latter stages of the contest.
M-CHS has already eclipsed their win total of two from last year and appear to have adjusted to the complexities of a newly installed offensive scheme.
“We feel like we're strong at each position,” added Wright, “and it allows us to be able to operate some of the sets that we want to run.”
The Panthers opened the season with a close loss to Aztec, before going 2-1 at the Jerry Richards Memorial Tournament in Shiprock. M-CHS will travel to Gunnison for a tournament Dec. 17-18 to cap the 2021 portion of the schedule.
Dolores, meanwhile, picked up their first win of the season in a 37-33 overtime victory over Lake City on Dec. 3. The Bears have a busy week, with Ridgway, Caprock Academy, and Debeque on the schedule – all home games – before the holiday break.
