{"id":29372,"date":"2024-02-04T04:29:45","date_gmt":"2024-02-04T11:29:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/montezuma-cortez-posts-historic-win-over-centauri\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T00:55:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:55:15","slug":"montezuma-cortez-posts-historic-win-over-centauri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/montezuma-cortez-posts-historic-win-over-centauri\/","title":{"rendered":"Montezuma-Cortez posts historic win over Centauri"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Montezuma-Cortez
Montezuma-Cortez celebrates as the final horn sounds in their monumental victory over Intermountain League foe Centauri \u2013 their first-ever win over the Falcons in league play \u2013 Saturday, Feb. 3 at M-CHS. Ben Bradley\/Special to The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

This wouldn\u2019t be a close call. Nor would it be a moral victory.<\/p>\n

The Montezuma-Cortez Panthers had endured too many of those over the years against the Intermountain League powerhouses \u2013 it was time to finish the deal.<\/p>\n

When the final horn sounded Saturday to cement their historic achievement, a celebration a decade in the making enveloped the Panthers on their home court. For the first time since joining the Intermountain League in the 2014-15 season, M-CHS knocked off Centauri in girls hoops, with the Panthers outscoring their visitors 22-14 in the final frame to capture a 48-44 victory.<\/p>\n

In their previous 22 tries against Centauri, the Panthers (7-6, 3-3 4A\/3A IML) had put up their best effort and fallen short, often running into a team that had ambitions of making the 3A state tournament. Now, it\u2019s the Panthers who have that level of ambition \u2013 and they now have their highest-caliber victory to add to their growing list of wins.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve shown everyone that we\u2019re the team that we\u2019ve claimed to be since the summer,\u201d said junior Taylor Whited after the win.<\/p>\n

A complete team effort turned a third quarter deficit into an advantage early in the fourth, as the Panthers raced on a 10-2 to take a 36-32 lead on the strength of three-pointers from sophomore Sariah Jackson and freshman Milah Begay.<\/p>\n

\"Montezuma-Cortez
Montezuma-Cortez junior Kalea Ogo eyes the basket as she gets set to sink the go-ahead free throw Saturday, Feb. 3 against Centauri. Ben Bradley\/Special to The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Montezuma-Cortez
Montezuma-Cortez junior Taylor Whited looks to attack with the basketball against a Centauri defender Saturday, Feb. 3 at M-CHS. Ben Bradley\/Special to The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Panthers
Panthers sophomore Sariah Jackson focuses while preparing to rebound a free throw Saturday, Feb. 3 against Centauri at M-CHS. Ben Bradley\/Special to The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Centauri (10-5, 4-3 4A\/3A IML) rallied back, however, as Falcons junior Hannah Curtis made her seventh triple of the game to tie the game up at 44, shortly after it appeared as if Begay\u2019s two free throws with just over two minutes left to put the Panthers up 44-39 might be enough to push the hosts over the finish line.<\/p>\n

In front of a packed Jungle, the Panthers found one more answer.<\/p>\n

Junior Kalea Ogo, whose defense and hustle keyed several big Panthers runs, stepped to the line with under a minute to play, and knocked in the go-ahead free throw.<\/p>\n

After another steal, the Panthers went right back to the line, setting up senior Markylla Jones with a chance to capitalize on another area where M-CHS controlled the game \u2013 on the glass. Jones took a free throw miss and stuck it right back in, reaching double-figures in the process and all but sealing the win for M-CHS.<\/p>\n

Centauri never got a tying field goal try on account of the stifling press, and M-CHS earned their moment to relish the magnitude of their achievement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d been working all season for this moment \u2013 and we did it,\u201d said senior Kayce Tom. \u201cWe knew after we lost at their place, that we\u2019d just need to play our game, and we could beat them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was our focus all week in practice,\u201d said Jones. \u201cWe were telling ourselves \u2018We got this\u2019 \u2013 as long as we played ball together and were patient \u2013 we\u2019re all so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a full team effort, M-CHS overcame their leading scorer Savannah Haselroth being limited to a single free throw. Instead, while Haselroth played her customary strong perimeter defense, the Panthers scored from every other possible angle.<\/p>\n

Junior Taylor Whited led the way with 12 points, including a buzzer-beating lay-in at the end of the third quarter that stirred the beginning of the comeback. Jones finished with 10, while Begay added nine and Jackson finished with seven. Ogo scored five while senior Kayce Tom and junior Reyaunna Jones added a field goal apiece.<\/p>\n

M-CHS briefly led in the second quarter after an Ogo layup, but the Falcons reclaimed the lead on a pair of Curtis threes, and would maintain the advantage throughout the third quarter to build a lead as large as six.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven when the momentum swung their way, we kept our heads up, kept pushing, and played together,\u201d said Whited. \u201cWe play for each other, and that changed the whole dynamic of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

The extended Panthers run in the fourth quarter turned the tide, and placed the Panthers within striking distance of their first-ever top-three finish in league play as members of the IML.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn that fourth quarter, we picked each other up, telling each other \u2018Let\u2019s go,\u2019\u201d added Tom. \u201cWe\u2019ve been at the bottom of the mountain through our four years, but we\u2019ve been climbing each year \u2013 and it\u2019s all been from our team chemistry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all in,\u201d said Jones. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t have done this tonight without everyone being bought in on teamwork.\u201d<\/p>\n

An opportunity to break another lengthy in-league streak arrives on Monday, as the Panthers play Alamosa in a rescheduled contest from Friday, taking on the Mean Moose \u2013 who have beaten M-CHS 21 straight times \u2013 for a 4:30 p.m. tipoff in The Jungle on Feb. 5. The contest can be heard on local radio station 98.7 FM KRTZ and on krtzradio.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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