Both the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys and girls varsity basketball teams were in action Thursday night, Dec. 9. The boys visited Moab, Utah, but information on that game was not available at press time. The girls defeated Ignacio 48-37.

Thanks to some poor shooting at the line for the Bobcats (21-of-49) coupled with headsup play in the second half by the Panthers enabled them to pull out the nonconference road win. They improved to 2-1 on the young season and will not compete again until they play in the Lady Bronco Fall Classic at Kirtland-Central High School in Kirtland, N.M., Dec. 16-18. The Panther boys’ next game is in the annual NGS Tournament in Page, Ariz., also Dec. 16-18. Both teams will then take a break for the holidays and then resume play after the New Year.

"We played well," MCHS coach Phil Baca said. "We played a lot smarter on offense in the second half. This was a hard, aggressive game."

The Bobcats led throughout most of the first half, but that was thanks to a lot of fouls early in the first period. Ignacio was in the double bonus situation before the period ended. The score was tied 21-all at the intermission.

The second half belonged to the Panthers. Cortez pressed Ignacio when both the top Ignacio point guards got into foul trouble. Ignacio’s other young guards could not handle the Panther defense.

Star Ross led Ignacio with 11 and Teresa Cox added 9.

Cortez had opportunities at the charity line as well. But they only shot 10-of-24 for 41 percent.

Holly Tanner led Cortez with 11 points and Annie Mortensen and Denise Newlin popped in 8 each.