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Bobcats run deep

IHS bench plays key role in regional win

An early barrage buoyed the Ignacio High School basketball team to another regional championship game.

Hotchkiss hit a 3-pointer to open the CHSAA Class 2A western regional semifinal, but the Bobcats ripped off 14 consecutive points after that and cruised to a 74-40 victory at Grand Junction High School.

“We came out on them pretty good. We got to play a lot of kids late to try and conserve energy,” IHS head coach Chris Valdez said.

The Bobcats struggled with foul trouble for one of the first times this season, a stumbling block that could have sank IHS (20-2) because of their perceived lack of depth.

Ignacio’s bench proved that assumption false in the first half.

“Kids were in foul trouble early. Adison (Jones) was in foul trouble early, so was Nick (Herrera) and Anthony (Manzanares). We gained a point or two on them (before halftime),” Valdez said. “We’ve talked about not having a bench, but our bench players came in and played their roles. What it does is it shows those younger kids that ‘hey, you’re important to this team. You’ve got an opportunity to help your team.’”

IHS extended its advantage to 35-13 at halftime.

Junior guard Wyatt Hayes led the Bobcats with 27 points, eight steals and six assists. He made four 3-pointers that helped loosen Hotchkiss’ zone and force the Bulldogs out of it.

“We had a little on them before he hit the first 3. Then he got hot,” Valdez said. “At that point, they came out of their zone and played man the rest of the game, which is right into our hands.”

Jones overcame his foul trouble to still score 10 points, but it was Ignacio’s guards that led the way.

Tucker Ward scored 13 points on three 3s, grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists.

“That was probably his best game of the year,” Valdez said.

Manzanares also played a well-rounded game with nine points, five assists and four steals.

The Bobcats next will play Paonia after the Eagles beat Soroco 57-47 on the other side of the bracket. They’ll play at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Grand Junction Central High School.

“Anything can happen,” Valdez said. “It’s tournament time.”

heraldsports@durangoherald.com

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