MONTE VISTA – The Monte Vista High School girls basketball team had a tougher time than expected when it hosted Montezuma-Cortez Friday at the MVHS gym.

The Lady Pirates had as much as a 22-point lead, only to see the Lady Panthers make a fourth-quarter comeback. But when the dust settled, Monte Vista was able to hold off the rally and win by a score of 46-37.

Kalea Ogo split at the free throw line for Cortez’s first point, but Daylin Castro hit a jumper to put Monte Vista on the board. Ogo gave the lead back to the Lady Panthers, however, Destiny Pacheco drove for a layup for a 4-3 Lady Pirates lead.

Shaylynn Bia put the Lady Panthers back into the lead with a layup. But that would be the final time they would have the advantage as Heysenny Beltran made a 3-point basket for a 7-5 Monte Vista lead at the end of the first quarter.

Beltran accounted for the first scoring of the second quarter with two free throws. But Bia and Taylor Whited both made layups to tie the score at 9-9.

Beltran made another three to put the Lady Pirates in front for good. Angeleigha Mora and Castro both scored, and Sasha Dupont made a layup and a free throw. Cindy Cereceres and Allessah Archuleta both made baskets, and Dupont drained a trey for a 26-9 advantage with 50 seconds left in the first half.

Whited ended the Lady Pirates’ run, but Monte Vista led 26-11 at halftime.

Hannah Henderhan opened the second-half scoring by making one of two free throws. Whited scored again, but Archuelta made a 3-pointer, and Castro made a layup for a 32-13 advantage.

Siana Elliot and Whited both made two from the line to cut the lead to 32-17. Beltran and Archuelta both made one of two from the charity stripe, and Henderhan and Archuelta both scored for a 38-19 lead.

Ogo split at the line to end the third quarter with the Lady Pirates leading 38-20.

Castro and Dupont both scored to give Monte Vista its largest lead at 42-20.

The Lady Panthers got five points from Elliot and three from Whited to reduce their deficit to 42-27. Evie Hinds ended the rally, but Whited scored four more points and Kyndall Schmitt scored two to close the gap to 44-33 with 2:04 left to play.

Castro split at the line, but Elliot scored four more points to bring Cortez within 45-37 with a minute to play.

Archuleta made one of two free throws to close out the scoring.

The Lady Pirates had a balanced scoring attack which was led by Beltran and Castro both with nine points. Dupont scored eight.

Elliot led all scorers with 13.

Monte Vista ended the regular season on Saturday with a 28-27 loss at Ignacio. Its final overall record was 11 wins and 11 losses and it was 5-7 in the Intermountain League. It will now wait to see if it will qualify for the Class 3A State Tournament which begins next week.

Monte Vista 46, Montezuma-Cortez 37

Montezuma-Cortez – Whited 4 5-6 13, Elliot 5 3-5 13, Ogo 1 3-7 5, Schmitt 0 2-2 2, Jones 0 0-0 0, Polich 0 0-0 0, Bia 2 0-0 4, Clarke 0 0-2 0. Total 12 13-22 37.

3-point goals – none.

Monte Vista – Dupont 3 1-1 8, Archuleta 2 1-4 6, H. Henderhan 1 1-2 3, Mora 1 0-0 2, Castro 4 1-7 9, Pacheco 1 0-4 2, Beltran 2 3-4 9, Mascarenas 1 0-0 2, Cereceres 1 0-0 2, M. Henderhan 0 0-0 0, Hinds 1 0-0 2. Total 17 6-22 46.

3-point goals – Beltran 2, Archuleta 1, Dupont 1. Total 4.

Montezuma-Cortez 5 6 9 17 – 37

Monte Vista 7 19 12 8 – 46

Fouls – Montezuma-Cortez 20, Monte Vista 23. Fouled out – Castro.