MANCOS – The Mancos girls basketball team have made state tournament appearances a regular feat over the past several years – which is an achievement on its own, given the program’s past challenges to get out of district play.
Since 2006, the Jays had qualified for the regional nine times, but still sought their first regional round victory.
That streak, like so many barriers shattered by this group, is now over.
Leaning on the same process that helped guide the Jays to an impressive regular season, along with the backing of a strong home crowd showing, Mancos shined on defense and counted on its top scorers to help them get past No. 25 seed Del Norte, 38-26, on Friday to move on to the Sweet 16.
The early nerves of playing on their home floor in the regional round – a first for the program in their previous nine excursions into regional play – began to evaporate as the Jays (17-5) forced turnovers in the opening stages.
“We wanted to treat this game just like every other one,” Mancos coach Kerri Morgan said. “we’re just excited to be able to play together as a team.”
Mancos led 12-9 after the quarter and found the Tiger defense would be a tough customer to break down until things opened up the second half. Sophomore Aysia Mathews drained a couple midrange buckets in the third quarter, helping the Jays establish a more comfortable advantage.
Leading 16-15 early in the third quarter, the Jays sustained a run on the back of Mathews’ baskets, while senior Quincy Montoya buried a 3-pointer to expand the lead to 26-19 to give the Bluejays some breathing room.
“After we started to lose our focus a bit in the middle of the game, we were able to really focus on defense,” Morgan said. “Our post defense did a really good job. Teya (Yeomans) and Aysia (Mathews) and the rest of girls did a great job keeping them from getting what they wanted.”
Mancos sophomore Claire Goodwin struggled to continue her scoring tear because of foul trouble, tallying just 11 points. However, she made free throws down the stretch.
Montoya scored 12 to lead all scorers, while Mathews added eight. Senior Teya Yeomans scored five to provide the complementary scoring that the Bjuejays have relied on all season.
Del Norte (10-12) was led by seven points from freshman Emma Parra to go along with six points from Baylie Laymon in the losing effort.
Mancos advanced to play ninth-seeded Sedgwick County in the regional finals, which will start at 11 a.m. Saturday. The Cougars (19-5) took down No. 24 Center 51-35 in the other regional semifinals matchup.
A live broadcast will be available on radio station 98.7 FM KRTZ and on krtzradio.com.
