Plenty of new faces saw varsity minutes for the Durango High School girls basketball team Tuesday after five seniors, including three starters, were not allowed to play because of a 10-day quarantine for having close contact with a student who tested positive for COVID-19.
The five players were removed from the court at Pagosa Springs High School during warmups Tuesday after the district contacted head coach Tim Fitzpatrick to inform him of the quarantine.
A stunned Demons team took the floor and fell 41-26 to Class 3A No. 8 Pagosa Springs on the road. Fitzpatrick had no comment.
Mason Rowland, a sophomore, led DHS with 11 points. Junior Sydney Flores finished with nine and freshman Carter Neiman had four points.
DHS (4-6, 1-3 5A/4A Southwestern League) went down 13-10 after one quarter. The second saw the Pirates (9-2, 5-1 3A Intermountain League) take control to go into the locker room with a 22-13 advantage.
Pending any potential COVID-19 cases, DHS is slated to host Fruita Monument at 4 p.m. Friday. DHS will try to reschedule Saturday’s senior day game against Grand Junction. DHS has four games remaining on the regular-season schedule, and Tuesday’s game would have given DHS a big boost toward trying to make the playoffs had it gotten a win.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
