Cortez Blasts Pagosa Springs to Capture First Intermountain League Crown

Montezuma-Cortez Panthers complete steady rise to the top of the league with 72-54 victory

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Montezuma-Cortez Panthers basketball team captured their first-ever Intermountain League championship with a dominant 72-54 victory over Pagosa Springs. The win capped a remarkable six-year rise for the Panthers, who finished 5th in the league in 2020 before steadily improving each season and finally reaching the top in 2026. Junior Trey Hall led the way with a game-high 26 points, while sophomore Royce Watts added a career-best 14 points in the win.

Why it matters

The Intermountain League has long been dominated by Alamosa and Centauri, with the other teams in the league struggling to break through. Montezuma-Cortez's title is a significant milestone, as they become just the second team other than Alamosa and Centauri to win the league crown since it was formed. This victory cements the Panthers' status as the new powerhouse in the league.

The details

Montezuma-Cortez set the tone early, jumping out to a 23-2 lead in the first quarter and never looking back. Junior Trey Hall had multiple highlight-reel dunks to demoralize Pagosa Springs, while sophomore Royce Watts caught fire from the perimeter to steady the Panthers when a teammate went down with an injury. Seniors Wyatt Oliver and Trace Hartsoe also reached double figures in the balanced scoring effort.

  • Montezuma-Cortez finished 5th in the Intermountain League in 2020.
  • The Panthers improved to 4th place in 2021 and 2022.
  • In 2023, Montezuma-Cortez finished as league runners-up.
  • On February 14, 2026, Montezuma-Cortez clinched the Intermountain League title with a 72-54 win over Pagosa Springs.
  • Montezuma-Cortez has three regular season games remaining before the postseason.

The players

Trey Hall

A junior on the Montezuma-Cortez basketball team who led the way with a game-high 26 points, including several highlight-reel dunks.

Royce Watts

A sophomore on the Montezuma-Cortez basketball team who scored a career-high 14 points, providing a perimeter shooting spark for the Panthers.

Wyatt Oliver

A senior on the Montezuma-Cortez basketball team who scored 10 points in the win over Pagosa Springs.

Trace Hartsoe

A senior on the Montezuma-Cortez basketball team who also scored 10 points in the victory.

Mike Hall

The head coach of the Montezuma-Cortez basketball team, who has overseen the program's steady rise to the top of the Intermountain League.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Panthers have one more road game on the regular-season schedule, Tuesday night in Ignacio, before turning their attention to the postseason. As the top-ranked team in the 4A Selection and Seeding Index, Montezuma-Cortez is poised to host a regional tournament on the weekend of March 6-7.

The takeaway

Montezuma-Cortez's Intermountain League title represents the culmination of a steady, six-year rise to the top of the league. After finishing 5th in 2020, the Panthers have steadily improved each season, finally breaking through to capture their first league crown and cement their status as the new powerhouse in the Intermountain League.