The Mancos Lady Blue Jays dropped two consecutive games to settle their record at 3-2 entering the holiday break.
On Thursday, the Blue Jays fell to Northwest 49-42 after getting down early.
“We did not get off the bus,” said head coach Mallory Morgan. “We were down by 11 at halftime because we didn’t do anything and in the second half we tried to play catch-up.”
“We’re doing that to ourselves, we’re hurting ourselves in the first half,” she continued. “Whereas, if we play all four quarters, it’s our game.”
On Friday, the Blue Jays again fell behind early and were unable to overcome a 16-6 first quarter deficit against the Nucla Mustangs, losing 47-39.
Nucla senior Erin Staats hurt the Blue Jays, grabbing offensive rebounds and finishing inside, scoring 12 of her game-high 20 points in the opening frame.
“We struggled with Staats in the first half and we just didn’t come out,” said Morgan. “We got outscored 16-6 in the first quarter, that’s the game right there.”
The Blue Jays trimmed the lead to six midway through the second quarter, but they were unable to penetrate the Mustangs’ 2-3 zone and turned the ball over on consecutive trips.
Jessica Gutierrez scored seven second-quarter points to keep the Blue Jays afloat, but Nucla used its size advantage to score in the paint and push the lead back to 11 at half.
Mancos junior Brittney Peacock caught fire in the third quarter, hitting to triples and scoring eight points. With her offensive output and the Blue Jays’ defensive change to a 1-2-2 zone, Mancos outscored Nucla in the quarter and entered the fourth down 35-27.
“I wanted them to beat us from the outside, because they didn’t shoot one outside shot,” Morgan said explaining the defensive switch.
“I should’ve gone to it earlier in the first half,” she continued. “Because we had success with it and it helped us big time.”
The Blue Jays attempted to come back in the fourth, getting within four points, but Nucla closed the game out with free throws down the stretch, winning 47-39.
Gutierrez led the Blue Jays with 16 points, Peacock scored all 11 of her points in the second half, Nicole Hess added eight and Emma Most and Ashley Cole each scored two.
