The Durango High School girls basketball team is off to a terrific start this season. The Demons are 4-0 and junior guard Katrina Chandler is a big reason why they have had such a hot start.
Chandler is picking up right where she left off last year and has been unstoppable in the team’s four game winning streak to start the season. She’s leading the team in scoring with an average of 17.5 points per game. Last weekend, the point guard led the Demons to their second Lady Hornet Holiday Tournament title in a row at Pueblo County High School.
Chandler had 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the championship game against Air Academy just hours after leading the Demons to victory against Vista Ridge in the semifinal with a team high 11 points. In the opening rounds of the tournament, she posted back-to-back 20-plus point games with 23 against Widefield, and 20 to beat tournament host Pueblo County. She also had 10 steals in the win against Pueblo.
For her dominant performances, she was named the Lady Hornet Holiday Tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
“Katrina did whatever she wanted to do in those games,” said Durango head coach Tim Fitzpatrick. “When we needed a basket, she gave us a basket. When we needed a stop or a steal, she came up with a play. She’s very humble, but really competitive. She flat out hates to lose.”
Chandler is a three-year starter for the Demons and was voted team captain as a sophomore last year. As an underclassman, the fact that the seniors nominated her speaks volumes about what kind of teammate and leader she is.
“Freshman year was just kind of getting used to everything, but my sophomore year it went to another level,” said Chandler, daughter of Clint and Rebecca Chandler. “We got a new coaching staff and I was able to relax out there a bit more and focus on becoming more of a leader and a better teammate. I had been playing with the older girls since 4th grade, so we already had great chemistry.”
Chandler did so well her sophomore year that she was named to the All-Southwestern League team with longtime friend and DHS standout Katie Wiegert. Wiegert graduated last year, but the Chandler-Wiegert combination gave opponents fits for years and Chandler is succeeding in carrying on that legacy.
“I’ve been playing with Katrina for as long as I can remember and we always knew she’d be a great player,” Wiegert said, daughter of Coby and Jill Wiegert. “When we voted for her to be the captain, it didn’t matter that she was just a sophomore. We all had so much respect for her game and her toughness that the age didn’t matter.”
The word “toughness” comes up often when talking to people about the little Demons point guard. In fact, Fitzpatrick said she’s the toughest player he’s had in over a decade coaching different teams at DHS.
“When I first got word that I was going to coach the girls basketball team, I went to check out a summer league game the girls were playing in,” Fitzpatrick said. “This girl (Chandler) had blisters on her feet that normal people wouldn’t be able to walk with. She played right through it and played well. She is extraordinarily tough.”
Chandler is a three sport athlete at Durango High School. Not only has she been instrumental in the success the Demons have had on the hardwood, but she played all 19 games for Durango’s softball team in the fall. As the team’s starting center fielder, Chandler hit .412 and led the team with 20 runs scored. She also plays for the girls golf team.
“Softball is fun, but basketball is my first love,” she said. “I haven’t given college much thought yet, but I know I want to play basketball wherever I end up. If they let me play ball, then let’s go.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
