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Durango squeezes into CHSAA Class 4A boys lacrosse state tournament field

Durango boys lacrosse picked for state tourney

The Durango High School boys lacrosse team wrapped up its final regular season game Friday with an impressive win that kept their state tournament hopes alive.

After the game, head coach John Robinette instructed the team to show up for practice Monday in hopes they would begin preparation for a state tournament game Wednesday, but nothing was guaranteed. If they didn’t get selected, Robinette was ready for one last fun day of practice before the players, including eight seniors, turned in their equipment for this season.

At 11 a.m. Monday, Robinette began working on a practice plan that was anything but light-hearted.

The Demons (8-6) were selected as the No. 14 team in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A state tournament field.

It all was made possible by an outstanding 11-7 win against Vail Mountain in a Mountain League Crossover game Friday. It was a game the Demons had to win to even keep their playoff hopes alive, and even then it was far from guaranteed.

“The kids showed a lot of heart and a lot of class the way they finished out the season,” Robinette said. “They worked real hard last week in practice to prepare for that Vail Mountain game, knowing if we didn’t win that there was no chance at all.

“It was the most inspired game they’ve played, with seniors stepping up into leadership roles and the whole team putting together a complete game.”

DHS will need an even better performance Wednesday, when they travel to No. 3 Cheyenne Mountain (12-3) for a 4 p.m. game in the first round of the state tournament.

The Indians, coached by Mike Paige, had another impressive season that included a trip to Virginia, a state filled with top-shelf lacrosse talent. Cheyenne Mountain went 1-1 in two games on the East Coast.

“Going through and looking at the matchup, obviously, we have our work cut out for us,” Robinette said. “They are a very seasoned team.”

In the same number of games, the Indians have scored 58 more goals and given up only 63 to opponents, while DHS has surrendered 131 goals this season.

They are led by Mitch Paige’s 51 goals and 21 assists. Eight players on the roster have recorded double-digit points, and Mitch Reddish has been a force in the midfield with 103 groundballs.

Kyle Robinette, a sophomore, led DHS with 88 groundballs and 18 assists this season. Senior Trevor Gabbard, who attends Bayfield High School, led the Demons with 32 goals.

DHS goalie Hank Muir has given up an average of 8.8 goals per game this season but is coming off a season-best 11-save performance against Vail Mountain.

Nate Robledo has been a wall between the pipes for Cheyenne Mountain, recording two shutouts and 10 wins overall while making 153 saves.

Coach Robinette hopes his team, which features three of the top 10 players in faceoffs won this season, including Hunter Hall, can help his team control possession and limit the Indians’ potent attack.

“I feel good that if we win some faceoffs and slow them down we can do a few things,” coach Robinette said. “Cheyenne Mountain is so balanced that we really need to focus on what we’re doing and control the ball on offense as much as we can.

“We need to keep it out of their stick, not have weak shots of our own and not turn it over. We need everyone to step up and play inspired.”

jlivingston@durangoherald.com



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