The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate basketball team got back to its winning ways last week, winning two games in a row to improve to 4-7 on the season.
The 4A Pirates hosted 3A Monte Vista on Friday, Jan. 16, winning a close game 67-58 to snap a six-game losing streak.
“It was a way to pick up a league win, [and] start the league in the right way,” said coach Brandon Forster. “You know, it sets the tone for what we want to accomplish for the rest of the season.”
Monte Vista led 16-14 at the end of the first quarter, with the hometown Pirates leading 30-26 at the half. The Pirates held a 46-40 lead at the end of the third.
The game was back and forth up until the final quarter, when a Monte Vista player fouled out and their coach proceeded to rack up three technical fouls, which led to eight free-throws for the Pirates.
At that point, Pagosa Springs was only up two points, but after the Pirates landed seven of their eight free-throws, they improved their lead to nine and were able to close out the win.
Creede Dozier was the leading scorer for the Pirates on Friday with 23 points. Ty Richey had 14 points, Jeremiah Jones had nine, Duke Ketchum had eight, Bode Hubbard had six, Jerry Dean had five, and Koen Pitcher had two points to round out the scoring for the Pirates.
As a team, Pagosa outrebounded Monte Vista 30-26. Ketchum led the squad with eight, followed by Jones with seven, Dozier with six, Richey with five, Hubbard with two, and Ross and Dean with one each.
The team shot 44 percent from the field, 18 percent from the 3-point line and made 26 of 31 from the foul line, or 84 percent. They assisted on four of their 19 made field goals, finished with six steals and logged 17 turnovers.
The Pirates then traveled to Ignacio to take on the 3A Bobcats on Saturday, Jan. 17, coming away with the 48-44 win on the road.
“Taking the ball, finishing when we need to and being able to come out with a win — it’s always a hard place to go in and win because they’re tough,” Forster said about the Ignacio game.
The Pirates trailed 13-7 at the end of the first, but outscored the Bobcats 15-10 in the second to take the lead, which they held onto, outscoring their hosts 14-10 in the third and 12-11 in the fourth to earn their second win in as many games.
Richey was the leading scorer for the Pirates with 15 points, Ketchum added nine, Jones scored eight, Ross had seven, Hubbard had five and Dozier had four.
Jones and Richey led the team in rebounds with five each. Ross had four rebounds; Dean, Dozier and Ketchum each had three; and Hubbard and Pitcher each had one rebound.
As a team, the Pirates shot 49 percent from the field and 71 percent from the free-throw line. They finished the game with nine turnovers and eight assists.
“Jeremiah Jones had big free throws at the end, and Duke Ketchum has been big since he’s gotten into the starting lineup, helping us get some wins,” Forster said.
After losing their first four games decided by 10-points or less, the Pirates were able to win two in a row.
Forster noted he credits the improved free-throw shooting and more emphasis on taking care of the ball as the reasons for the wins last week.
The Pirates have two games this week.
The first will be played in Alamosa on Friday, Jan. 23, when the Pirates take on the Alamosa Mean Moose, who are 5-7 on the season and are the No. 37 team in Colorado 4A boys’ basketball.
The Pirates are the No. 36 team.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
The Pirates will then host the No. 3 Montezuma-Cortez Panthers, who are 12-0 on the season, on Saturday, Jan. 24, with tip-off set for 3 p.m.
Forster explained he feels like his team matches up well with both upcoming opponents and is confident that his team can hang with anybody, especially after their two big wins last week.
jsellner@orourkemediagroup.com
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