The Durango High School girls basketball team had a nearly perfect league opener Friday night against Grand Junction.
Durango (8-2, 1-0 Southwestern League) wasted no time taking command, as the Demons scored the game’s first 12 points on their way to a dominant 47-24 win to open the Southwestern League season. The win marks the first time Durango has beaten Grand Junction since 2010, and it also was the Demons’ first home game all season.
Katrina Chandler was unstoppable for Durango. The junior guard led the Demons with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. While Chandler took care of the perimeter and the ball-handling, Stephanie Basye was a force down low for Durango and finished with 16 points and six rebounds.
“We started the game with some really good energy,” said Durango head coach Tim Fitzpatrick. “We’ve been doing that regularly on defense, but it was nice to see it on the offensive end early in this one.”
Durango rudely welcomed the visitors to town with a high-energy trap defense that had the Tigers (7-8, 0-1 SWL) miffed at the start. The Demons were all over the place in the first quarter and forced five Tigers turnovers as they got out to a 14-2 start.
Chandler took things upon herself in an impressive first half in which she filled up the stat sheet. She scored 17 first points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out three assists and swiped three steals in the first half alone.
Her efforts allowed Durango to build 27-15 halftime lead.
“We wanted to come out and give 110 percent,” said Chandler, daughter of Klint and Rebecca Chandler. “We got off to a great start and just kept it going. I’m proud of this team.”
In the second half, it was more of the same from the suffocating Durango defense. The Demons allowed only two third-quarter points and built a 20-point lead that sealed the outcome.
With Chandler running the show at point guard, the Demons took care of the basketball, slowly milked the clock and extended the lead at the same time.
Meanwhile, Basye took care of Grand Junction’s best player, Colorado Mesa recruit Tori Catlett, at both ends.
“She’s a really good player, and I was both excited and a bit nervous going against her,” said Basye, daughter of Steve and Tanya Basye. “I’m just so happy with the way we all played. We’ve been working so hard and it paid off.”
Jill Payne led Grand Junction with seven points, and Madi Yunker had six in the loss for the Tigers.
“Durango got out to such a fast start and we couldn’t respond soon enough,” said Grand Junction head coach Sam Provenza. “Katrina and their defense were just too much for us. Hats off to them.”
Durango will try to go 2-0 to open league play as it hosts Grand Junction Central at noon Saturday.
jfries@durangoherald.com
