MONTE VISTA – The Monte Vista High School boys basketball team was looking to make a statement when it hosted perennial power Montezuma-Cortez Friday at the MVHS gym.

After a strong third quarter put the Pirates ahead 46-37 at the end of the third quarter, the Panthers came roaring back in the fourth and won by a slim 60-57 margin.

Darrien Archuleta gave Monte Vista the early lead with a 3-point basket. But Tay Wheat knocked down a jumper and Trace Hartsoe split at the free throw line to tie the score. Wheat then scored three more baskets to give Cortez a 9-3 lead.

Ismael made a pair from the line to end the run, but Wheat made one of two free throws. Medina drove for a layup, but Trey Hall hit a jumper. Alex Marquez answered with a layup and a free throw to close the deficit to 12-10.

Wheat scored again, but Kaden Mellott made a couple of charity tosses. Ah-dea Lang made a three to end the first quarter to give the Panthers a 17-12 lead.

Wheat opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer, but Archuleta answered with his second trey, Lang also made another three for a 23-15 Cortez lead.

Azariah Hurtado drove for a layup, but so did Jaidin Istenes. Domyon Naranjo and Kaden Madrid both drove for layups, but Lang scored in the paint, and Caidin Leonard from behind the arc to give the Panthers a 30-21 lead.

Hurtado ended the quarter with a three to bring the Pirates within 30-24 at halftime.

Hurtado began the third quarter with a layup and Naranjo made two free throws. Hartsoe made a layup, but Kobe Jiron hit a jump shot to close the deficit to 32-30.

Asher Bennetts split at the line and Wheat made a layup to push the lead to 35-30. But Naranjo and Jiron both drove for layups and Jiron also added a free throw to tie the score at 35-35.

Leonard put Cortez back on top, but Marquez made three free throws to put the Pirates into the lead at 38-37. He made two more baskets, and Mellott made two free throws and a layup to give the Pirates a 46-37 lead at the end of the period.

Hall made a layup and a free throw for the first points of the fourth quarter. Naranjo scored Monte Vista’s first fourth quarter points, and Madrid scored to give the Pirates their largest lead at 50-40.

Hall split at the line and Leonard drained a 3-pointer to close the margin to 50-44. Hurtado gave Pirates some breathing room, but Hall made one of two from the line as did Wheat. Wheat and Conner Rosenbaugh both made threes to tie the score at 52-52.

Marquez split at the line, but so did Hall. Lang then made his third 3-pointer to put Cortez into the lead at 56-53.

Hurtado cut the lead to one with two free throws, but Lang also hit a pair from the line. Madrid made a layup, but Kaleb Schmitt made two free throws with five seconds remaining.

The Pirates pushed the ball up court but Marquez’s 3-point shot was unsuccessful.

Hurtado and Marquez both scored 11 points to lead the Pirates.

Wheat led all scorers with 20 points, followed by Lang with 13.

Monte Vista also lost at Ignacio 67-49 on Saturday to finish the regular season with 10 wins and 12 losses and a 3-9 record in Intermountain League play. It will now wait to see if it will qualify for the Class 3A State Tournament which begins next week.

Montezuma-Cortez 60, Monte Vista 57

Montezuma-Cortez – Leonard 3 0-0 8, Hall 2 4-7 8, Wheat 8 2-4 20, Bennetts 0 1-4 1, Hartsoe 1 1-2 3, Lang 4 2-2 13, Istenes 1 0-0 2, Oliver 0 0-0 0, Schmitt 0 0-2 0, Rosenbaugh 1 0-0 3. Total 20 10-21 60.

3-point goals – Lang 3, Leonard 2, Wheat 2, Rosenbaugh 1. Total 8.

Monte Vista – Jiron 2 1-1 5, Naranjo 3 2-2 8, Medina 1 2-2 4, Hurtado 3 0-0 11, Archuleta 2 0-0 6, Madrid 3 0-0 6, Marquez 3 4-4 11, Mellott 1 4-4 6, Martinez 0 0-2 0. Total 17 13-15 57.

3-point goals – Archuleta 2, Hurtado 1. Total 3.

Montezuma-Cortez 17 13 7 23 – 60

Monte Vista 12 12 22 11 – 57

Fouls – Montezuma-Cortez 20, Monte Vista 20. Fouled out – Leonard. Technical foul – Madrid