The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate basketball team picked up a league win last weekend against the 3A Centauri Falcons, putting the team at 11-10 ahead of their final regular-season game this week.
The Pirates beat the Falcons 40-32 on Saturday, Feb. 21, at home.
The game was tight throughout. The Pirates held a 20-16 lead at halftime, and the Falcons were able to cut the lead to three points ahead of the fourth quarter.
Defense and timely shot making in the fourth quarter were the difference, noted coach Brandon Forster, as the Pirates outscored the Falcons 13-8 in the fourth for the eight-point win.
The Pirates were largely without leading scorer Creede Dozier, who was battling illness, and Jayton Ross, who left the game early with a shoulder injury.
Jeremiah Jones led the team with nine points in the matchup. Ty Richey and Duke Ketchum each had seven points, Kasen Limebrook ended the game with six points, Hudson Davis and Jerry Dean each had four, and Bode Hubbard added three to round out the scoring.
Hubbard and Jones each led the team with five rebounds apiece. Limebrook, Dean, Davis and Richey each had three rebounds. Koen Pitcher and Ross had one rebound each.
As a team, the Pirates shot 45 percent from the field, 38 percent from the 3-point line and 58 percent from the foul line.
They grabbed 24 total rebounds, assisted on seven of their 15 made field goals, finished with two steals and turned the ball over 12 times.
Forster emphasized that Davis and Limebrook, two younger guys on the team, stepped up in the fourth quarter, especially with the absences of Ross and Dozier.
“Their baskets were in key moments,” Forster said of Davis and Limebrook. “That was big for us. It kept us in the game, gave us a lead at one point. Big shout out to those young guys stepping up when we needed them.”
The Pirates have one final regular-season coming up to end the season.
They will travel to Bayfield for a matchup with the 20th-ranked 3A Bayfield Wolverines, who are 13-8 on the season, on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
The Pirates beat the Wolverines earlier this season.
“If we can just stay calm, stay relaxed and take care of what we need to, we’ll be able to come out with a win,” Forster said.
The Pirates currently sit ranked 24th in 4A and are on track to advance to the playoffs.
Since Jan. 16, the Pirates are 9-3.
“These kids have been really resilient, able to fight through a lot of things,” Forster said. “And it’s been fun to see them kind of come together as a team and be successful in that.”
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