Knowing how close their guests had come to triumph 10 days earlier and knowing how close they had also been only three days before, the hometown Lady Wolverines knew Tuesday evening just how dangerous visiting Mancos could be.
Neither Bayfield nor Mancos, which was coming off a double-overtime loss to Aurora-based 2A Lotus School for Excellence on Dec. 1, had won a game this season. Sophomore-laden Mancos was hungry.
“They do play well as a team,” Bayfield head coach Josh Kitchen noted afterward.
Down 16-7 but within striking distance through the first eight minutes, and later able to re-accelerate and play to 18-14) in the final frame, a third-quarter drought ended up being the Lady Jays’ undoing in a 58-33 road loss. Junior Isis Jaime’s four free throws were Lady Jays’ entire production in the third quarter, and it wouldn’t be enough.
Surprising Bayfield by checking in from Kerri Morgan’s bench, sophomore post Madi Hale booked a team-high 11 points, with six coming during the energized fourth quarter. Hitting a clutch three-pointer during the second quarter, Jaime – who also entered as a reserve – totaled seven points, and freshman starter Rhiley Morgan-Montoya managed six despite playing with a team-high four fouls.
Slowed by three first-half personals, senior Ericka Peacock was held to just three points as Mancos (0-5, 0-1 2A/1A San Juan Basin), which last week lost 52-14 loss at Dove Creek, trailed 27-15 at halftime but 40-19 after three completed quarters.
Freshman Maddy Oltmanns came off the Bayfield bench for a game-high 16 points – eight of them in the fourth quarter. Senior regular Tymbree Florian scored nine of her 14 before halftime, and sophomore post Macee Schultz contributed nine points, double-figure rebounding and at least a half-dozen blocked shots.
Sophomore backup Aubree Farmer chipped in seven points as Bayfield (1-3, 0-0 3A Intermountain) avenged Saturday’s 32-28 loss to 3A Granby Middle Park at the Buena Vista Invitational.
Up next for the Lady Jays will be a Dec. 14 trip to Center (2-2, 0-0 2A Southern Peaks), with the San Luis Valley venture continuing the next day at nearby 2A Sargent. The Lady Farmers (1-4, 0-0 Southern Peaks) will first host Lamar (1-4, 0-0 3A Tri-Peaks) on the 14th before welcoming Mancos.
