MONTE VISTA – The Monte Vista High School made its return to the Intermountain League on Friday as it hosted Pagosa Springs at the MVHS gym.

It was a successful return to the IML as Monte Vista won 51-36.

Azariah Hurtado began the scoring with a layup, but Jaxten Scheil made a layup and a 3-point basket to give Pagosa a 5-2 lead. Hurtado then drove for another layup and then buried a three to help Monte Vista regain the lead. Seth Ziegler also made a three for Pagosa for an 8-7 lead.

That would be the final time Pagosa would have the advantage. Alex Marquez split at the line to tie the score, and then Hurtado knocked down a jumper and later added two free throws.

Kaden Madrid also made a pair from the line, and Hurtado and Madrid both scored layups to give Monte Vista an 18-8 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Hurtado scored the first points of the second quarter, but Scheil ended the run with a layup. Marquez split at the line, but Creede Dozier drained a three to cut the Monte Vista lead to 21-13.

Hurtado scored two more layups, but Ziegler made a layup and two free throws.

Monte Vista led 25-17 at halftime.

Colt Lewis made a 3-pointer to open the second half, but Hurtado made three baskets and a free throw for a 32-20 Monte Vista lead. Marquez then buried a trey to push the lead to 35-20.

Lewis scored again and added a free throw. But Madrid scored in the paint.

Dozier and Lewis both split at the lime, but Domyon Naranjo made two from the line and Monte Vista led 39-25 at the end of the third quarter.

Scheil opened the fourth quarter with a layup, but Madrid made two baskets including a three. Marquez split at the line and Hurtado scored again to give Monte Vista its largest lead at 47-27.

Ziegler drove for a layup and added a free throw, but Marquez scored a layup. Scheil and Lewis both scored, but Marquez scored again. Scheil’s layup wrapped up the scoring.

Hurtado led all scorers with 28 points. Madrid was next with 11 and Marquez scored 10.

Ziegler was Pagosa’s top scorer with 14 points.

Monte Vista (7-2, 1-0) will host Bayfield on Friday at 7 p.m. and Centauri on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Monte Vista 51, Pagosa Springs 36

Pagosa Springs – Dozier 1 1-5 4, Ross 0 0-0 0, Ziegler 5 3-3 14, Scheil 4 0-0 9, Lewis 3 2-3 9, Dean 0 0-0 0, Richey 0 0-0 0, Hubbard 0 0-0 0. Total 13 6-11 36.

3-point goals – Dozier 1, Lewis 1, Scheil 1, Ziegler 1. Total 4.

Monte Vista – Marquez 3 3-4 10, Mellott 0 0-0 0, Medina 0 0-0 0, Hurtado 12 3-3 28, Archuleta 0 0-0 0, Jiron 0 0-0 0, Madrid 4 2-2 11, Naranjo 0 2-2 2, Gonzalez 0 0-0 0. Total 19 10-11 51.

3-point goals – Hurtado 1, Madrid 1, Marquez 1. Total 3.

Pagosa Springs 8  9  8  11 – 36

Monte Vista 18  7  14  12 – 51

Fouls – Pagosa Springs 20, Monte Vista 18.