Panthers get the best of visiting Cowboys

Courier photo by Stephen Jiron Sierra Grande's Abby Corona splits Moffat defenders Sheridan Taylor (24) and Natalie Roberts (35) on her path to the hoop.

BLANCA — In Saturday night’s game the host Panthers (8-5) dispatched Mountain Valley-Moffat (4-4) in a straight-forward game by a score of 66-30.

Mountain Valley-Moffat (MVM) opened the season at the Cotopaxi Invitational Tournament. The co-op team would finish in second place falling to host team Cotopaxi in the championship. MVM would then win three of their next four games en route to getting swept by Cotopaxi on Jan. 24.

Sierra Grande received a harsh welcome to the 2018-19 season, dropping four of their first 5 games. Since mixing it up in their own district Sierra Grande is receiving a boost. Prior to Saturday’s game the Panthers had breezed their way to their fourth consecutive win, downing opponents by an average 38 point differential.

Both teams came out ready to play in the first quarter. For Moffat it was Nicole Berry and Natalie Roberts each sinking a three pointer to help get the Cowboys to 11 points. For Sierra Grande it was 6 baskets from senior Abby Corona to post 14 of the Panther’s 19 first quarter points. Corona took the scoring crown Saturday night with 23 points, pacing all Sierra Grande scorers.

Sierra Grande ceased all operation on the opposing side of the court in the second quarter. The home team continued to post points at a furious pace while keeping Mountain Valley-Moffat to just 4 points taking a 34-15 lead at the half.

Sierra Grande would continue to enforce their will over the next two quarters, reaching their most efficient quarter of the game with four different girls scoring at least four points in the fourth quarter.

Mountain Valley-Moffat mustered 15 points in the final two quarters and a running clock was triggered in the final quarter of play.

The win marks the fifth in a row for Sierra Grande. The final stretch for Sierra Grande will offer some specific challenges. Sierra Grande will face two top ten 1A class teams in Cotopaxi (12-2) and Sangre de Cristo (10-2) in consecutive weeks.

Mountain Valley-Moffat will get some respite as their next three opponents combine for a record of 9-28. They’ll likely use that as a springboard for their Feb. 9th home matchup with La Veta (8-6).