For the first time in program history, the Durango High School girls basketball team is heading to the state quarterfinals.
“I feels really good,” said DHS senior Halle Peterson. “I think we’ve worked really hard and it’s awesome to see it pay off; everyone (on the team) has had a part in our success.”
“It’s historical,” said DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick. “There’s never been a girls team like this to make this type of run.”
Durango, the Class 5A tournament’s No. 3 seed, started strong and finished strong on Saturday to beat No. 14 Pueblo West, 35-26, in the round-of-16 at DHS.
Mason Rowland scored the first bucket of the game and Riley Campbell knocked down a jumper to put DHS up 4-0. The Cyclones closed the gap a few times in the contest, but the Demons never relinquished the early lead.
Pueblo West entered the contest with four players averaging over nine points per game, but DHS clamped down an defense and didn’t give up more than eight points in a single quarter on Saturday. “Our defense was pretty good all game,” the coach said.
DHS led 9-6 after the first quarter, 19-13 at halftime and then took a 24-21 lead into the fourth.
Peterson said the team’s “intensity” on defense is what makes them hard to score on. “We’re all trying to make an impact wherever we can,” she said.
The intensity was on display when Reese Glover dove for loose ball in the opening minutes.
The Demons then clogged Pueblo West’s passing lines and swiped balls away from the Cyclones throughout the game.
Rowland had several steals in the game and took a few coast-to-coast for buckets. Peterson tipped a pass away in the second quarter. Later in the second, Lilly Fitzpatrick hauled in an offensive rebound and Rowland capitalized on the extra opportunity with a basket that gave DHS a 16-8 lead.
In the third quarter, DHS created some good scoring opportunities, but a lot of the shots were just off target. Despite Ellie White and Fitzpatrick forcing turnovers, the Cyclones cut Durango’s lead to 24-21 in the frame.
The Cyclones then scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to get within one point of DHS. The Demons, however, responded by going on a 9-0 run to pull away.
“We kept our heads up and kept taking it to them, even when we made mistakes,” Peterson said. “You have to keep moving fast in basketball. You can’t think about what just happened, you just have to keep playing.”
Rowland knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key to start the rally. She then stole the ball, but was called for traveling after she collided with a Cyclone on a fast break. Rowland then blocked a shot before nailing another 3-pointer.
“We went to some different sets that got her open looks,” coach Fitzpatrick said.
Tyler Trujillo tipped a Cyclone pass away and Peterson hustled to save it from going out of bounds for DHS. Makenna McGraw hit a late 3-pointer for Pubelo West that cut DHS’ lead to 33-26, but DHS was able to eat the final seconds off the clock after a Peterson steal.
Rowland scored 26 points to lead DHS. Campbell had a hot hand early and finished with 6 points. Trujillo added two points and Peterson one.
Jamie Suazo scored 12 points to lead the Cyclones while Katie Peterson and Trynity Martin both scored four.
The Demons will now square off against No. 11 Cañon City on Thursday at the Denver Coliseum. Cañon City beat No. 27 Frederick in the second round, 46-39, and No. 22 Mountain View in the first round, 53-47. Frederick, meanwhile, upset No. 6 Palmer Ridge in the first round, 56-50.
“We’ve played on the road all season so it’s nothing new,” Peterson said. “We’ll just go in and do what we do best: be us.”
The other quarterfinals will feature No. 1 George Washington versus No. 8 Glenwood Springs, No. 2 Roosevelt versus No. 7 Air Academy, and No. 4 Windsor against No. 5 Mead.
The semifinals and championship games will also take place at the Denver Coliseum on March 9 and March 11, respectively.
“I’m just proud of them; they’ve been consistent all year,” Fitzpatrick said, noting the team won two tournaments this season, a league title for the first time in 25 years and is now heading to the Great 8 for the first time in program history. “That says a whole lot about the team.”
