Multiplicity of meandering mortals

SPORTS SHORTS
by Scott Boyle
Have you noticed the multiplicity of mortals meandering the newly groomed ski trails at Dalton Springs this winter? 
Those hardy folks armed with snowshoes and skis have found a winter playground that makes one hope for the winter to continue. 
If you give it a try, snowshoeing or cross country skiing, you’ll soon discover why so many are venturing more and more into the snow country which abounds for months around here. 
My father, a transplant from snowless Arkansas, often said that since we live in a place with winter, you might as well get out in it and enjoy it. 
Beyond the enjoyment is the exercise factor.  A moderate effort for an hour with skis or snowshoes burns off 745 calories. 
It’s hard to believe, but that’s the same burn one can get from working at a steel mill or baling hay, or coal mining for an hour. 
And pretty much the same as a fireman burns while hauling hoses around or an hour of field or ice hockey, or jump roping, lacrosse, polo, rock climbing, cycling, mountain biking, rappelling, running a 12 minute mile, swimming sidestroke, tennis or volleyball, in the sand or on a court, or SportShorts personal favorite, synchronized swimming (just kidding).
So find you some snowshoes or skis and let’s see you on the mountain while the snow lasts and let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Boys and Girls
Monticello High School continues to dominate Region 19 basketball play with two wins by the girls, their ninth and tenth wins in a row, last week and the boys adding another win, their sixth consecutive.
The fourth ranked Lady Bucks beat Monument Valley for the second time this season on Tuesday, 53-32, before crushing the Pinnacle Panthers for the second time, too, 63-30 to run their region record to a spotless 6-0 and 12-5 on the year. 
Atlanta Black, the third leading scorer in 1A, averaging 16 points a game, was the leader again for the Bucks with a double double, 14 points and 12 rebounds, in the win over MV and a season high 25 points to go with nine rebounds against Pinnacle. 
Allie Maughan had massive games as well, flirting with a triple double by scoring 11 points, grabbing nine rebounds and swiping six steals at Monument Valley and tallying 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals on the court against Pinnacle. 
Michaela Wolford gave the Lady Bucks a three headed attack with 12 points and three steals in the MV game and 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals Friday night. 
Sophomore Ashley Adair scored a career-high nine points in the win over Pinnacle to go along with two steals.
Whitehorse and Duchesne visited the Buckaroo Corral Friday and Saturday with the last regular season game also at home on the ninth of February against the Pirates, in what will most likely be for the region championship and first place seed in the state tournament.
High atop the Region 19 standings one will find the Buckaroos boys, too.  The Bucks handled the Pinnacle Panthers on Friday night in Monticello, 63-48, on the strength of six three pointers by five different players and three players in double figures, Tyler Bird with 14, Matt Freestone 13 and Nolan Freestone 10. 
Eli Johnson had eight points and Tobin Esplin and Andrew Torres both added seven to give the Bucks some great balanced scoring on the night.  But for the three-point shooting by the Panthers, they canned nine of ‘em, this could have been a night. 
The Bucks won the first three quarters, leading 52-26, before the three-point barrage brought the Panthers a little closer in the fourth quarter. 
Unranked since losing an early January tantalizing tilt to the fourth ranked Tabiona Tigers in Tabiona, 43-41, the resilient Bucks boast a 10-2 record and are 5-0 in region.  
Tuesday, the Bucks host the San Juan Broncos after press time. They host the Whitehorse Raiders on Friday night.
Wrestling
Enjoyed the duals Wednesday night, a wonderful night of wrestling.  Amazing to see the Bucks win match after match in impressive fashion. 
Head Coach Kent Adair and all his assistants have compiled a record to be envied and wrestlers who certainly know their stuff and know how to show it. 
And the new cowboy boots presented to the coach by former wrestler, Shane Deeter?  They match perfectly the cowboy Buckaroo shirts the wrestling coaching staff wears, much different than the usual polo shirts most coaches wear. 
With the new Buckaroo boots, Coach Adair might be the best matched coach with the school mascot dresser in the state!!  How about a new tradition at Monticello, cowboy shirts for coaches and players?