AZTEC, N.M. - Ah, the fun of playing on the road.

If a basketball team can overcome all the adversities of playing on the road and pull out a win, that team is pretty special. The Panther boys did exactly that Saturday night, Jan. 6, by defeating Aztec High School 71-58 in nonconference action.

Only a few minutes into the game, the officials called a technical foul on Aztec’s Carlos Gurule. Marcus Mortensen went to the line and sank one of two. And before the end of the night two more technicals would be called, including one on Mortensen and another on the Aztec coach. And after the game was over, Aztec City Police had to be called in. A few words were exchanged and some shoving occurred among fans.

Following the first technical, the game pretty much went as normal although it looked like it was going to turn into a three-point shooting contest. The Tigers gave Montezuma-Cortez High School plenty of room to shoot. Gabe Evans knocked down two and Jeff Anderson added another during the period. Aztec’s Jesse Hankins, Cody Pickard, and Ryan Rigdon all canned threes. But the key basket was when Kirk Archibeque was credited for making a field goal following a goal tend call at the buzzer. Cortez led 18-17.

The Panthers, playing in the first game since before Christmas, played an outstanding second quarter both offensively and defensively. Evans started the offensive fireworks by nailing a three-pointer. Panther Chris Garland muscled in a lay-up and then got loose a few seconds later for another shot underneath for a 26-19 lead. A few minutes later Mortensen dribbled the length of the floor for a bucket and then a few seconds later Mortensen hit a three. The Tigers called time out at that point with Cortez up 33-21. The Panthers went on to take a commanding 42-25 lead at the intermission.

But the game of prep basketball is four quarters long. The Tigers opened the third period with a 6-2 run. MCHS called a 30-second time with Cortez still leading 44-31 with 4:55 on the clock. Garland, who just played an outstanding game, made a nice follow and free throw which got the Panthers going a little at 47-31. Lionel Curley made a three for Aztec, capping a 13-5 run. Cortez held a 49-39 lead when the quarter ended.

The Tigers scored four straight points to start the fourth. Cortez lead was cut to 49-43 with 6:47 to play. A few minutes later, the Aztec coach was called for a technical and Mortensen connected on both free throws for a 51-42 advantage. Garland continued to play for the Panthers, not only scoring but grabbing many offensive and defensive rebounds. Garland sank eight free throws during the fourth and scored three more baskets (scoring 14 of his game-high 26 points) as the Panthers pulled out the win.

Evans finished with 16, Mortensen 12, and Layne Frazier 8. Merton Sandoval popped in 14, Rigdon 13, and Pickard 11 for Aztec.

Cortez played without the services of Kyle Wilson who is coming off an injured elbow.

"We kept our composure with what was going on out on the floor (a lot of taunting by several Aztec players and fans as well). We didn’t play very well offensive or defensively in the third quarter but we played well down the stretch," MCHS head coach Wade Mortensen said following the game.

Coach Mortensen was pleased with the play of Garland.

"He really played a great game for us tonight. He has been a great leader. He especially played well down the stretch, making all those free throws. But I thought considering we were coming off the break, I thought all the kids played pretty well," Mortensen added.

Garland ended the evening with a double double for the record books. In addition to his 26 points, he also grabbed 12 rebounds (most of those defensive).

MCHS boys and girls open Southwest League play at home by hosting Fruita-Monument at 5:45 p.m. (girls) and boys around 7:30 Friday night, Jan. 12, in Ron Wright Memorial Gym. They host Central of Grand Junction beginning at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13.

In other action over the weekend, Mancos boys lost 65-59 at Bayfield on Saturday.

Mancos played well in the first quarter as Travis Clark and Jesse Rousset worked the inside game. Mancos held a 20-14 lead but the Wolverines made a 7-0 run in the final two minutes to take a 21-20 advantage.

The Wolverines adjusted in the second quarter to bottle up Clark and Rousset. Bayfield then went on a 16-2 run over a four-minute stretch to take a 41-33 lead at the intermission. Jon Qualls did the most damage for Bayfield as he scored 21 points in the half, 10 in the first quarter.

The Blue Jays made a 7-0 run to start the third quarter. Mancos trimmed the lead to 44-40 but then Bayfield went on a scoring rampage late in the third and into the fourth. The Wolverines led 63-50 with 3:05 to play and coasted from there.

Rousset finished with 17 for Mancos. Teammates Bill Baker (13), Kyle Yeomans (12) and Clark (11) also scored in double digits.

"I guess in that game we just did not have good team work," Mancos head coach Gary Hill reported. "Neither team played much defense. We just did not play very good basketball."

The Mancos girls, in the preliminary game, held on for a thrilling 41-39 win over the slightly larger school.

Bayfield’s Jackie Shaw just missed a shot at the buzzer.

The Wolverines trailed 39-29 mid-way through the fourth quarter before rallying within striking distance. They pulled within a basket at 39-37.

In the final 20 seconds, the Blue Jays led 40-39 and were able to play keep-away from Bayfield until 4.3 seconds remained before the Wolverines finally committed a foul. Mancos’ Lacey Morris hit one of two free throws, giving Shaw and the Wolverines the chance for the win. Her long shot from the right side missed.

But the Mancos girls, despite outstanding defensively play by Kerri Morgan, could not stop Ignacio on Friday night, Jan. 5, in the Mancos Performance Center. The Bobcats pounded Mancos 77-40. The Blue Jays could not stop Reagena Thompson, who scored 15 points. Katie Whiteskunk, Julia Valdez and Arla Velasquez joined Thompson in scoring with 18, 12 and 10 points, respectively. The Blue Jays lost to Ignacio earlier in the season.

Mancos had a hard time finding the basket. The Blue Jays’ first and only field goal in the first quarter didn’t fall until just 30 seconds remained. But by that point, Mancos was already behind 26-3.

The Ignacio boys didn’t need any coaxing to keep up their momentum, as they barely escaped the Mancos gym with a 49-48 victory over the Blue Jays. Ignacio had beaten Mancos earlier in the season at home but had lost to the Jays in the Blue Jay Classic just before Christmas.

Mancos played very well the first few minutes of the first period. Baker scored 13 points in the first quarter, including three 3-pointers, to give the Blue Jays a 16-6 first-quarter advantage.

The Bobcats rallied, though. They held Mancos to just 6 points in the second quarter while Ignacio scored 15.

Mancos got into foul trouble with two players — Baker and Rousset — in foul trouble. Baker would only score 2 more points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

"We did not shoot the basketball well at all. It’s hard to win basketball games if you shoot 8-21 from the free throw line and only 27 percent from the floor. We got into foul trouble and we could never get going," Hill added.

"It comes down to old fashioned team work and pride. That’s what we did not do or have last weekend. I’m disappointed in the way we are playing especially after we played so well during our Blue Jay Classic. If we do the little things, like rebounding and finishing, I think we will be okay when it comes to league," Hill said.