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Durango boys basketball overcomes bad start to beat Montezuma-Cortez 63-50

Rival Panthers had hot start, Demons finish strong

In a rowdy atmosphere when tensions are high and emotions can take over the game, Durango senior Terrence Trujillo shines.

Trujillo dug the Demons (12-7, 5-3 Southwestern League) out of a first-quarter hole and scored 10 second-half points as Durango beat Montezuma-Cortez 63-50 on Tuesday night in Durango. The senior guard led the Demons with 17 points and Guy Bay added 15, most of which came from the foul line in the final quarter to put the game away.

“It’s a six-game season for us and, at this point, nothing is guaranteed regardless of the records,” said Durango head coach Alan Batiste. “I’m proud of the guys for finishing the job, but we have to be better at the start.”

As it’s been for much of the season, Durango started slow and the opponents took advantage. The Demons’ defense, however, allowed only five points in the second quarter and never relinquished the lead after grabbing it midway through the frame.

From the opening tip, the Panthers (3-15, 0-8 SWL) looked to use a size advantage with big man Luis Perry. The senior center got the Panthers off to a 10-5 lead, and Batiste was looking for answers.

Trujillo’s seven first-quarter points prevented it from being a very ugly opening quarter and kept it close.

In the second quarter, the Demons woke up.

The defensive intensity and pressure was raised, and Durango started to show who was the more talented team. A 10-0 second-quarter run gave the home team the lead, but the Panthers came roaring back.

Trailing by seven at halftime, Montezuma-Cortez rallied in the third quarter with a 9-0 run that cut the Demons lead to one.

That’s when the Durango seniors responded.

Orion Clay hit a 3-pointer to make it a two-possession game, and Trujillo added five consecutive points to pump the Demons lead back to eight. Clay finished the night with 15 points.

“This has been an awesome rivalry since I’ve been playing here,” said Trujillo, son of Geno and Nicole Trujillo. “I’ve played in a lot of big games, so I’m comfortable, but when it’s this intense it can slip away. I just tried to get the guys to focus and finish.”

In the fourth quarter, that’s what the Demons did.

Bay was 9-for-12 from the foul line, and the team was 13-for-17 at the stripe in crunch time to send their rivals home without making a final comeback.

Perry’s 15 points and seven rebounds led the Panthers in both categories.

Next up for Durango is a 7 p.m. Friday game against Montrose at home. They follow up with Fruita Monument at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

jfries@durangoherald.com

Feb 9, 2016
Durango’s Shilo Gillen sensational for girls basketball team against Montezuma-Cortez


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