BY JIM THOMAS

GRAND JUNCTION — They just didn’t have enough firepower at Regionals with two starters hobbled and out of the game but they still gave West Grand all it wanted. Mancos High School varsity girls lost 52-42 to the Mustangs at the Class 2A Western Regionals Saturday afternoon, March 4, at Grand Junction High School.

"We were a little short-handed (playing without starter Randee Reider who went down with a broken bone in her foot at the District III Tourney and starter Erica Russell who was out all season with a knee injury). But the girls played well considering," Mancos coach Kevin Dimmick said.

The Blue Jays stayed close to the slightly taller Mustangs early in the first quarter. Shonda Brown zipped down the lane for a lay-up which put West Grand up 7-4. But Mancos came back and trailed 9-8 with 2:51 to play. Kristin Paxton made a lay-up and was fouled. She missed the charity toss and Mancos trailed 12-10 with 1:44 on the clock. Hannah Sheehan made two lay-ups at the end of the quarter giving the Mustangs an 18-12 lead.

Paxton’s lay-up for an assist from Kerri Morgan which cut the Mustangs’ lead to 18-16 early in the second quarter. West Grand went up 22-16 by getting second and third chances to shoot underneath. Mancos pulled within five at 25-20. Jackie Pancos made drove the lane for lay-up at the buzzer. West Grand led 31-21 at the half.

The Blue Jays made a lot of turnovers early in the third quarter. They trailed 33-23 with 6:05 on clock. Rene Davis’ bank shot closed the gap to 38-30 and Melissa Keller followed that with a reverse lay-up which trimmed the Mustangs’ advantage to 38-32. West Grand still led 41-32 when the third quarter ended.

The Mustangs were patient on offense and started working the clock early in the fourth quarter. But Mancos began pressing hard, forcing several turnovers. The Blue Jays made a run at them. West Grand called time at 2:35 leading 43-36. Mancos missed some threes and the Mustangs grabbed some key defensive rebounds. The ball at the end was just not falling for Mancos.

"I thought we played good defense in the second half, holding them to only three field goals. We made a little run at them in the fourth quarter. We were forced to foul and they made their shots," Dimmick added.

Mancos definitely had problems trying to stop Sheehan who finished with 20 points. Brown chipped in 13 and Pancos 9. Paxton led Mancos with 19 and Keller added 10.

"I can’t complain. This has been a good season. Sure, we would like to be playing this week (at State) but it wasn’t in the cards. With some transfers at the start of the school year and then Erica going down early with a knee injury and couple other things, I thought the girls played very well this year," Dimmick added.