by David High
LA VETA — Sierra Grande, the top team from the Southern Peaks League at 8-0 came to La Veta this past Thursday looking for their 14th overall win of the season against the hometown Redskins. The Panthers were dominant, building an impressive 46-15 lead in the first half, showing why they are ranked sixth in all of class 1A.
The Redskins played evenly the next two quarters with their invaders from the valley staying within two points until the final horn. Unfortunately the first half still counts in the final score; a win for Sierra Grande at 71-38.
Photo by Geri Ugolini-Craddock
The visiting Panthers hit an impressive 10-14 for 71 percent from outside the arc in the conference match-up to pull away from the Redskins.
Eric Morgan with 14 points and fellow senior Alex Mondragon with eight points carried the offense for the Redskins team that shot 39 percent from the field.
Saturday the cloudy skies parted long enough for the Redskins to rebound from the Thursday loss as they faced the Centennial Rams. Steady play for the first three quarters on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court resulted in a 41-18 lead going into the last period. The final was a much needed bounce-back win, the fifth of the season with the final 49-32 Redskins.
Carson Miller, Mondragon, and Morgan, all with 10 points, sharing the ball to lead the Redskins offensively on the night’s win. Ian Vallejos added seven to the La Veta total.
The Redskins didn’t shoot too many shots from outside the arc, but they didn’t miss on many of the ones they did take, hitting at a 44% season high with Miller getting two, and Jose Aguirre and Vallejos each with one. Mondragon continued his domination on the boards getting a team high 18 rebounds.
“We’ve attacked and scored at the rim more as of late and that has opened some other things up for us,” said La Veta coach Jon Brunelli. “Carson Miller and Ian Vallejos have really stepped up lately and played well and Ty Warren has found a nice little shot inside. That going along with the consistent play we’ve had from our seniors all year has started to get us better results,” added Coach Brunelli. “We just need to continue to work hard as we go into districts.”
S. Grande 24 22 17 8 71 – La Veta 8 7 15 8 38
Centennial 9 4 5 14 32 – La Veta 12 16 13 8 49
