Preview: Montezuma-Cortez Panthers vs. Alamosa Mean Moose
After four games on the road, Montezuma-Cortez is heading back home. The Montezuma-Cortez Panthers and the Alamosa Mean Moose will face off at 5:30 p.m. on February 2nd without much rest after finishing up games yesterday. Both teams come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
In what's become a running theme this season, Montezuma-Cortez gave their fans yet another huge victory on Saturday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Bayfield 57-27 on the road. The win was just what Montezuma-Cortez needed coming off of a 62-37 loss in their prior match.
Savannah Haselroth continued her habit of posting crazy stat lines, scoring 18 points along with eight rebounds and seven steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Markylla Jones, who scored 12 points along with seven rebounds and four steals.
Meanwhile, even if it wasn't a dominant performance, Alamosa beat Ignacio 43-38 on Saturday. The victory made it back-to-back wins for Alamosa.
Alamosa's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jaelin Garcia, who scored 15 points along with five rebounds. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Garcia has scored all season. Laci Christensen was another key contributor, scoring 11 points along with three steals.
Montezuma-Cortez's win ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 6-6. As for Alamosa, their win bumped their record up to 10-6.
Friday's matchup is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Montezuma-Cortez have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 32.2 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Alamosa struggles in that department as they've been averaging 27 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Montezuma-Cortez came up short against Alamosa when the teams last played on January 13th, falling 50-39. Will Montezuma-Cortez have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.
