While calling the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys basketball team’s 82-70 victory Wednesday over Monte Vista ‘The Titus Jackson Show’ would be overstatement, it was impossible to overlook his standout game.
Utilizing a combination of long-range shooting, deft drives to the basket and athletic finishes in the lane, Jackson scored a career-high 26 points, including 11 in the second quarter, and willed his team to victory.
“I knew I was getting hot, so I said to myself, ‘Might as well keep going,’” Jackson said. “I wanted to get the team fired up..”
Among Jackson’s most impressive stretches came early in the second quarter, which the junior began with a driving layup. Jackson drilled two 3-point field goals moments later and converted two free throws to give the Panthers a 17-16 lead.
In spite of Jackson’s hot hand, Monte Vista kept the game close thanks to senior point-guard David Mascarenas, whose ability to penetrate the lane and set up teammates was on full display as M-CHS trailed 14-8 at the end of the first quarter and led 32-29 at halftime.
“He’s just a good basketball player,” said Jackson, who sometimes guarded Mascarenas. “He knows how to score, and he knows how to set up other people for easy buckets.”
After a seesaw start to third quarter that featured several ties and lead changes, the Panthers ended the quarter on a 13-2 run that gave them a 53-43 lead. Keying the run were five points from senior Michael Diaz and four points from junior Teagan Whiteskunk.
Over the final eight minutes of the contest, M-CHS looked to another senior, Cordell Baer, and the big man delivered by scoring 13 of his 19 total points in the fourth quarter.
As Baer tossed Monte Vista players aside while collecting offensive rebounds, Panthers’ fans roared their approval. Monte Vista’s coaches shook their heads in dismay.
Although Monte Vista cut M-CHS’ lead to 65-60 midway through the fourth quarter and later trailed 77-70 after a basket by senior Darrius Garcia, the Panthers made key free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
“This whole week of practice, we focused on finishing games the right way,” Baer said. “We utilized five people on the floor at the end of the game. I just did my job. I want to get rebounds whenever I can, be physical, and use my strength and height to my advantage.”
With its victory, M-CHS improved to 15-5 on the season. The Panthers will host Bayfield High School in the second round of the Intermountain League’s district tournament.
“Bayfield knows how to win, they always have,” said Baer. “We’re going to have to stop their guards from rebounding and shooting open threes. Hopefully we can come out with a win.”
Because of weather conditions in the area, the game between M-CHS and Bayfield been rescheduled and will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. In the event that M-CHS defeats Bayfield, the Panthers will play at home against either Centauri or Alamosa in the District Championship on Monday.