The Durango High School boys basketball team earned a 49-42 overtime win against Grand Junction Central to open play in the 5A/4A Southwestern League and gave head coach Alan Batiste his 100th win with the Demons on Friday night in Grand Junction.
“It feels good. I was sweating my tail off like it was the Sweet 16 game last year,” DHS head coach Alan Batiste said of the win. “It was amazing. I’m really proud of the boys and happy for them. We’ve been grinding for two months, and I’ve been the nagging coach and on their case the whole time. They played hard and executed well, and I’m extremely happy for the boys.”
As far as getting his 100th win, Batiste was humbled by the success.
“Oh, man. One hundred, huh?” Batiste said. “I never get caught up in individual awards. They’re nice and you love them as a player, but I’ve always been a team guy. ... I credit all the boys who have been through the program. I credit every player. I know players don’t always agree with their coaches, but my players have always done what I’ve asked of them. I’m happy. It’s a good deal. I’m glad I made it to 100. It’s been a long but short eight years. It’s cool.”
The game was close most the night. The Warriors led 10-6 after the first quarter and 25-20 at halftime.
Central started the third quarter on a short run to get its lead to 29-20 before the Demons pushed back and closed the quarter on an 8-1 run that made it 30-28 Central heading to the fourth.
Tied 40-40 after regulation, Central (5-10, 0-2 SWL) scored first in overtime, but Durango’s Cullen Robinette took charge and scored six of his 14 points in the extra period to help the Demons (3-9, 1-0 SWL) to victory.
“He showed good poise,” Batiste said of Robinette. “He slowed things down. The lesson we’re trying to teach him is you can’t play at 100 mph all the time. He really stepped up for us after Seth (Johnson) fouled out.”
Caleb David led the Warriors with 14 points.
The Demons will play at Fruita Monument (9-7, 1-1 SWL) at 3 p.m. Saturday.
The Wolverines were pushed for all four quarters, but in the end the Bayfield High School boys basketball team (8-4, 3-0 3A Intermountain League) made all the plays it needed to for a 57-50 victory against Pagosa Springs (7-4, 1-2 IML) on Friday night in Pagosa Springs.
“We had to finish it. It was a tight game,” BHS head coach Jeff Lehnus said. “I wasn’t thrilled with the defense in the first half. I have high goals for them to keep teams in the 40s and they got to that darn 50. But they had 30 at half, so 20 in the second half, I’m really pleased with that effort.”
Turner Kennedy led Bayfield’s defense with five steals, two of which came in the fourth quarter that swung the momentum in the Wolverines’ favor. He finished with 10 points.
Ryan Phelps led the Wolverines with 29 points.
Bayfield will host No. 2 Alamosa (9-1, 3-0 IML) at 5 p.m. Saturday at BHS.
“There’s no disguising it as just another game,” Lehnus said of the Alamosa game. “We were tied for the league lead last year and we won the tournament, and to do that we had to beat them in a couple very close games. This is something everybody will be looking forward to.”
Girls Basketball
Girls BasketballWith time winding down, Emma Fitzgerald stole an inbound pass near midcourt, sprinted down the floor and finished a contested layup with less than 10 seconds remaining to send the Durango High School girls basketball team to a 30-28 victory against Grand Junction Central on Friday night in Grand Junction.
“I think it’s huge,” DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said of the win. “They were really excited. The way we look at it, we’re 3-1 in 2018. We had a rough start, but we’ve kind of found our stride. We’re trying to build off of what we’ve been doing. I’m just really proud of the whole team effort.”
The two sides were tied at 13 at halftime, and Central (7-9, 0-2 5A/4A Southwestern League) built a 22-18 lead after the third quarter.
DHS senior Hilda Garcia imposed her will and scored eight points in the fourth quarter, including two clutch free throws that tied the game at 28.
Garcia finished the game with 20 points for the Demons (4-9, 1-0 SWL).
DHS will play at Fruita Monument (14-1, 2-0 SWL) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Pagosa Springs girls basketball team had too much offense for Bayfield and rolled past the Wolverines 61-6 Friday night in Pagosa Springs.
“Pagosa is really talented and they’re well coached. But, overall, the girls fought until the end,” BHS head coach Josh Kitchen said. “We knew we were going to have to play well and we just didn’t hit the shots we took. When you don’t hit your shots and you’re playing a really great team the score can get away.”
The Wolverines (3-8, 1-2 IML) handled the press of the Pirates (9-2, 3-0 IML) well and limited what the Pirates’ fast break chances. But Pagosa Springs’ half-court offense picked apart the Bayfield defense to run away for the win.
Bayfield will host Alamosa (5-4, 1-2 IML) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at BHS.
kschneider@durangoherald.com
