The Pagosa Springs Lady Pirate basketball team will head into the playoffs on a three-game win streak after beating Bayfield to close out the regular season.
The Lady Pirates traveled to Bayfield for their final game before the playoffs and defeated the Wolverines 49-12 on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The Lady Pirates went up 11-3 after the first quarter and 25-5 at half. They continued their play into the second half, outscoring the Wolverines 24-7 over the final 16 minutes for the 37-point win.
“Our game at Bayfield was a great way to close out the regular season,” wrote coach Sarah Osborn in an email to The SUN. “To finish the regular season with one more win in league put us tied for second in league with Alamosa which was a goal of ours.”
Kaila Limebrook led the team with 11 points in the game. Adelyn Hittle followed with 10 points, Amber Snarr and Ximena Garcia each had seven, Bella Adkisson had four, Lexi Campbell and Ahrianna Martinez each added three points, and Aliana Hoffschneider and Liana Vega each added two points to round out the scoring.
Garcia led the team with seven rebounds, Limebrook and Hittle each had six, Snarr finished with five, and Adkisson had four. Vega, Campbell and Maddie DeClark each had two. Hoffschneider and Martinez each ended with one.
As a team, the Lady Pirates hauled in 36 total rebounds, assisted on 12 of their 19 made field goals, finished with 23 steals and turned the ball over eight times.
“It meant a lot to the girls to compete to the very end and finish the season the right way,” wrote Osborn. “That gives us some momentum going into the playoffs.”
The Lady Pirates finished the season with a 13-9 record and are the No. 12 seed in the 32-team 4A state playoffs.
They will head to Sterling for the Sterling regional this weekend.
Their first opponent will be Skyview on Friday, March 6, with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.
Skyview is the No. 21 seed and finished the season with a 13-10 record.
No. 13 Sterling will also take on No. 20 Coal Ridge Friday, with winners of the two games facing off in the Sweet 16 round on Saturday, March 7.
Osborn emphasized that the key to winning is to focus on the little things such as defensive effort, rebounding and taking good shots.
The girls have been focusing on scouting details, tightening up defensive pressure and making sure they are sharp in late-game situations as well, notes Osborn.
“If we can stay disciplined, communicate defensively, and keep playing as a team, we’ll give ourselves a strong chance in the playoffs,” she wrote.
Also representing the Intermountain League in the playoffs are No. 8 Alamosa and No. 24 Montezuma-Cortez.
jsellner@orourkemediagroup.com
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