The progress the Bayfield High School boys basketball team has made since the start of the season showed in a 76-47 win over Aztec on Tuesday in Aztec, New Mexico.

BHS increased its winning margin from the season opener from 11 to 29 while playing on the road in the Rumble in the Jungle tournament.

“Our goal was to hold them under 48 points, and we did that,” BHS head coach Jeff Lehnus said. “Really good performance in the second half. We got good separation at that point.”

Balanced scoring and dominating the boards allowed BHS (6-1) to stretch its lead.

Zane Phelps led the Wolverines with 18 points and 14 rebounds, his fifth double-double of the year.

BHS senior Preston Hardy nearly picked up a double-double for himself with 14 points and nine rebounds, and Trevor Gabbard scored 17.

“We had that good guard with the post balance,” Lehnus said.

Senior guard Dillon Hoselton ran the offense with five assists to lead the team and chipped in six rebounds.

“He’s one of our real golden nuggets,” Lehnus said. “He’s a pretty key cog in things.”

The Wolverines outrebounded the Tigers 46-21 and totaled 12 assists as a team.

“We did a nice job distributing the basketball,” Lehnus said. It was a nice team win.”

BHS will play its second game of the Rumble in the Jungle against Class 5A Fruita Monument on Saturday in Aztec.

The Wildcats are 1-9 this season with no players averaging double-digit points per game.

“It’s a new challenge. It’s important to us,” Lehnus said. “We don’t get many opportunities to show what we can do against other teams in the state in Denver and (Colorado Springs). It will be good if we can beat them and get more recognition, belief in ourselves. It’ll be a challenge, and I’m excited to see what we can do with it.”

heraldsports@durangoherald.com