Durango has found consistent offensive scoring, and the result is a three-game winning streak.
The DHS girls basketball team earned a 49-33 win against Grants High School of New Mexico in the opening round of Aztec’s Rumble in the Jungle tournament. The Demons (6-5) overcame foul trouble to beat the Pirates (4-9). Tayler Dossey scored 12 of her team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter of the win.
“Coming out of the holiday break, we had only had two practices,” DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said. “We had a really good effort, and I’m proud of these girls because we had got into foul trouble with four starters getting two fouls in the first quarter. I rotate the starting lineup, but the bench today really played well.”
The Pirates used a press defense, but the Demons were able to break it and score easy baskets. No matter who was in the game, the Demons showed they could handle pressure. Solid defense also helped the Durango girls play transition basketball.
Fitzpatrick pointed to the play of underclassmen Sydney Flores, Kathryn Paul and Brenna Wolf off the bench, while Emma Fitzgerald, Emma Hackett and Kyle Rowland also were key in handling the ball.
Jael Larson was big in the fourth quarter with all six of her points. Dossey did damage at the foul line in the final eight minutes.
“(Dossey) was being aggressive offensively,” Fitzpatrick said. “She got to the foul line a lot and capitalized on those.”
It was the fourth time this year the Demons have played at 9 a.m. or earlier, and two other games have come after 8:30 p.m. The non-traditional schedule has become the norm for the Demons, and they have adjusted accordingly. By winning Thursday, the team won’t have to play until 4:30 p.m. Friday against St. Michael out of Arizona. The Cardinals, who have won the last two Class 1A state titles in Arizona, are 11-4 this season and beat Newcomb 48-37 on Thursday.
“That’s our reward for winning,” Fitzpatrick said. “We finally don’t have to play the early game.”
Fitzpatrick is also happy to get a chance to see Class 5A/4A Southwestern League rivals Fruita Monument and Montrose at the tournament. He hopes Thursday’s offensive performance carries over to Friday.
“I’ve been pleased with the girls all season in the quality shots we’ve been taking. Sometimes they just haven’t been going in,” he said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
