The Lobos headed into the final week of the regular season still on top of the power point rankings with an impressive overall mark of 22-2. Their unbeaten regular season mark was in jeopardy twice last week, but in both cases Snowflake picked up come from behind wins.
Tuesday’s game with Globe was not a come from behind win. The Lobos piled up the points, hitting the century mark with a 100-43 win over the hapless Tigers.
Snowflake led 49- 21 at the break and cruised to the big win with a 51-point second half. Keegan Bjornn led the Lobos in scoring with 20 points. Jordan Gardner added 14; Travis Flake, 12; Gunner Caldwell and Tanner Crosby, 11 each; Jake Lyman and Dallin Chapman, 9 each; Kurt Wood, 7; Caedon Ervien, 4; and Eldon McCray, 3.
On Thursday the Lobos could have used some of those points as they had to come from behind in the fourth quarter to beat Blue Ridge, 69-64.
The Yellowjackets led 48-44 heading into the fourth when Snowflake found its stride, scoring 25 points to secure the comeback win.
Flake led the way with 25 points. Gardner added 12; Caldwell, 10; Crosby, 9; Bjornn, 7 and 10 rebounds; and Wood, 6 and 15 assists.
Saturday’s game in Safford was even closer as the Bulldogs gave Snowflake a scare in the fourth.
The Lobos trailed by one after the first and by two at the half. A big third period gave them an eight-point lead and they needed nearly all of it to hold off Safford in the final period. Snowflake held on despite scoring just 10 in the final quarter, escaping with the 62-60 win to keep its top ranking intact.
Crosby led the Lobo offense with 15 points, followed by Gardner with 13; Caldwell, 9; Bjornn, 8; Wood, 8 and 10 assists; Ervien, 5; and Flake, 4.
After playing at fourth ranked Holbrook on Tuesday, the Lobos will play against rival Show Low on Thursday, Feb. 5, then close out the regular season in Winslow on Friday, Feb. 6. They will then be playing in the sectional tournament, which begins on Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Show Low.
