Log In


Reset Password
Sports Youth Sports Professional Sports More Sports College Sports High School Sports

DHS hitting state tournament road

The Durango Demons are no stranger to long road trips, so they aren’t worried about two in the first round of the state tournament.

Both Durango High School basketball teams qualified for the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A State Basketball Championships and will travel to play in the first round.

The DHS boys team is a No. 8 seed in Golden’s bracket. No. 1 Golden is 20-3, while the Demons went through a 10-13 season. If Durango could upset Golden, it would face the winner of No. 4 Thomas Jefferson and Western Slope League foe No. 5 Glenwood Springs in the Richard Tate Bracket semifinal.

Durango’s girls (16-7) started and finished strong, but a rough patch in the middle of their season saw them miss out on a three-seed or better. The girls will travel to Pueblo West as a No. 4 seed, and the Demons will face No. 5 Littleton (17-6) in the first round. The winner of that game would play No. 1 Pueblo West in the Tracy Hill Region semifinal.

“We’ve played five good games in a row now. Hopefully we can keep it up,” DHS girls head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said.

DHS had tournament success in Pueblo earlier in the season at Pueblo East’s Holiday Tournament. The Demons won the tournament and started the season 11-1. DHS is 6-1 on neutral floors this season, while Littleton has played only three games on a neutral court all season.

“We’re used to traveling. The kids are accustomed to it, and they’re pretty good at it,” Fitzpatrick said. “That shouldn’t be an issue.”

Littleton plays a faster-paced game than Durango prefers. The Lions use press defense and race out to an average of 56.8 points per game. The Demons are more defensive-minded and score 42.9 points per game. DHS has limited opponents to only 36.26 points per game, while Littleton allows just more than 47.

“(Littleton) likes to pick up the pace, and we try and lock down defensively more than anything,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’ll see the difference in styles and how they mesh.”

Littleton’s press defense has caused a lot of turnovers. It average 14.8 steals per game to the Demons’ seven. It also has more effective shot blockers with 2.1 per game to 0.8 for DHS.

Laura Puchino leads Littleton with 14.8 points and five steals per game. DHS senior guard Katie Wiegert leads the Demons in scoring with 13.5 per game. Sophomore guard Katrina Chandler has been on fire lately, averaging 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals per game.

“We are kind of similar teams in that we both have tough leagues we play in,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m excited. I wish we could’ve got a three seed, but we got to go play who we got to go play.

“I’m confident with the group right now.”

The DHS boys are in for a tough test against a fast, physical Golden squad. Golden, also nicknamed the Demons, has four players 6-foot-4 or taller. Durango has two players, DJ Bay and Scott Morse, who are 6-4. Caleb Kennedy has been one of Durango’s most effective rebounders, and he stands 6-3.

“It’s a tough challenge, indeed. But, the plus side is that 4A is a wide-open field this year,” DHS boys head coach Alan Batiste said. “Anyone can win any game. You just have to play your best basketball that night.”

DHS has played its best when it doesn’t rely on 3-point shooting and can drive to the basket, just as it did to get to the Southwestern League/Western Slope League championship game Saturday, when it fell short against Montrose. Still, when DHS does make its 3s, it has competed with the best teams in the Western Slope.

“It was tough losing to Montrose, but the boys are in the right mind frame,” Batiste said. “It’s the perfect time of year for that, playoff time.”

Nate Atencio, Lucas Baken and Terrence Trujillo have been DHS’s most reliable scoring threats this season.

DHS has scored 60 or more points three times this season, all wins. Golden averaged 62.2 points per game and has scored 70 or more points seven times this season, including a season-high 86 against Littleton. DHS averages 46.69 points per game.

The Demons will be focused on slowing Golden 6-foot-2 senior guard Ryan Thistlewood, who averages 13.2 points, 6.2 assists and 3.3 steals per game. Ryan Blodget, a 6-5 power forward, leads the team in rebounding with 8.4 per game. Batiste called Blodget, who also averages 10. 9 points per game, one of the best players in the state.

“He’s a good post player and athletic guy. It’ll be a zone matchup. We’ll get a scouting report on them,” Batiste said. “One guy might get 20, but we can’t let everyone else beat us.”

Game times will be determined Monday. Play begins Friday with Sweet 16 games to be played Saturday.

jlivingston@durangoherald.com



Reader Comments