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Fruita Monument wins battle against Durango boys

DHS can’t match size of the Fruita Monument big men

There’s a reason why the Fruita Monument Wildcats are on a winning streak, and if there’s convincing needed then just ask the Durango High School boys basketball team.

The Demons welcomed the Wildcats on Saturday only to realize how talented Fruita Monument is, as the Wildcats defeated the Demons at Durango High School 50-46.

Jake Brizzolara scored a game-high 17 points and Air Force commit Javen Gumber added 13 points and eight rebounds on the day. Gumber also went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Durango’s Terrence Trujillo led the Demons with 16 points, three assists and three steals.

“Their wing span is about 15 feet, but we knew what to expect when we played them a few weeks ago,” Durango head coach Allen Batiste said. “We got stagnant and settled for shots and they were not falling. We fixed it, and the boys responded really well.”

The biggest problem that Durango (13-7, 6-4 5A/4A Southwestern League) faced was not only the size of Fruita Monument (12-9, 7-1), but the Wildcats’ zone-defense. Fruita Monument played a 1-3-1 zone with both Gumber and Trey Morrill playing up front. Gumber and Morrill are both 6-foot-5 or taller.

Having two big men playing up top pressured Trujillo and Lucas Baken to make plays. When the ball would reach the baseline, Fruita Monument’s suffocating defense would collapse around the basket to make it difficult for Durango to get an uncontested shot off. If missed, Fruita Monument’s size advantage won the day, as the Wildcats outrebounded the Demons 24-17.

Baken finished with 11 points, and Scott Morse finished with five rebounds to lead the Demons.

Midway through the second quarter, it looked as though Fruita Monument would run away with the win by jumping to a 22-10 lead. However, just before halftime, Durango woke up and went on a 13-2 run to make the game more interesting. Durango even took a one-point lead shortly after half.

“Moving the ball was key, and we started moving the ball in transition, which was the biggest thing that got us back in the game,” Batiste said.

The Wildcats then took a one-point lead at the end of the third quarter with the game hanging in the balance.

Free throws played a major factor, as Fruita Monument went 10-for-12 and Durango went just 4-for-10.

“We figured it out by the end, but they are very efficient,” said Trujillo, son of Geno and Nicole Trujillo.

As time began to slowly expire, the Wildcats began to play keep away from the Demons. Durango didn’t foul as much as it should have near the end and time expired.

“We probably should have fouled them more which would have given us more time, but they’re good free throw shooters,” Trujillo said. “We just have to forget about the second part of the season. We’re on the third part of the season now and we have to play every game like its our last because it could be.”

Up next for Durango is the 5A/4A Southwestern League tournament with the time and date yet to be determined.

jmentzer@durangoherald.com

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