Bloomfield, N.M., head coach Devon Manning urged his team to “shoot with confidence” during an unwanted timeout quite early in their Webb Toyota/Kirtland (N.M.) Central Basin Invitational opener.
In his own mind, however, that command likely had a suffix attached: “…like that Adison Jones!”
Ignacio’s junior power forward/center had already scored six of Ignacio’s 10 points – achieved in only 2:49 worth of action – then cashed a three-pointer after Manning’s attempted interruption, then dashed away Bloomfield’s try for a long buzzer-beater ending the quarter, then opened the second with a perfect 15-footer from the wing to give his team an authoritative 18-6 advantage.
Still thinking they’d be challenging the Colorado 2A force on Day 2 the following afternoon, 1A Montezuma Creek (Utah) Whitehorse’s Raiders, watching from the stands, had to be thinking the same as everyone else observing the Bobcats’ outbreak: This is their first game of the season?
A lengthy second-quarter lull indicated that, yes, Ignacio had not yet faced outside competition yet in 2013, but a 24-point third quarter – rebuilding the lead from 20-14 at the half to 44-27 entering the fourth quarter – told the throng inside Bronco Arena all they’d need to know.
Led by double-figure scoring from Jones (11 points), Clayton Jefferson (11), sophomore Wyatt Hayes (14) and senior Kelton Richmond (14), nine Cats contributed points in the 62-37 rout on Day 1, and Ignacio’s winning ways continued with a 53-47 win over Shiprock, N.M., rather than WHS on Day 2, then a thrilling 57-52 defeat of the hosting Class 4A team for an outstanding 3-0 start to the new season.
Shiprock (2-2), Class 3A State semifinalists ending ’12-13 and always dangerous after a loss, had lost by a bucket on Day 1 to Las Cruces, N.M., Mesilla Valley Christian (3-1; Class 2A State semifinalists last season), putting extra pressure on Ignacio to maximize as many possessions as possible. No reminders were needed for the Saturday night showdown against Christian Mackey-led Kirtland Central (3-1).
Whitehorse, after being re-paired against and losing by 23 to Bloomfield on Day 2, fell 71-30 to Shiprock in the consolation game on Day 3 (Saturday, Dec. 7) and sank to 0-3 overall. Mesilla Valley had little difficulty with Bloomfield’s Bobcats in the third-place game, rolling 63-43.
Taking some of the sting out of Chieftain Hiram Gleason’s game-best 19 points, Jefferson netted three of Ignacio’s eight triples against Shiprock, en route to a team-leading 13. Mackey – the only Bronco scoring 10 or more – was the high enemy in the finale with 21 points.
Next on the Bobcats’ plate was their 2A/1A San Juan Basin League opener, Thursday, Dec. 12 at Telluride, but it was completed after the Drum went to print. A trip to non-league 2A Sargent was to follow on Saturday, Dec. 14, with a jaunt down to Bloomfield beyond that on Monday, Dec. 16.
UNUSUAL: A unique addition to Ignacio’s schedule (at least at the time of this writing), though neither at the varsity nor even the JV level, is a C-team contest at home on Friday, Dec. 13 versus Silverton. The Miners, truly an unknown entity, have not even a mention on the Silverton Public Schools website.
But a schedule – showing prior games against the JVs of SJBL squads Ouray, Dolores and Mancos – has been posted online at maxpreps.com.