A special group of seniors led the Durango High School girls basketball team to the Sweet 16 of the state tournament this year. Now, another Demon will have the opportunity to lead a successful program at the next level.
After another successful season in the DHS red, black and white colors, senior forward Taylor Edwards signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Otero Junior College in La Junta.
“I’m crazy excited for the opportunity to play at the next level,” Edwards said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “It has been a dream of mine to play college basketball, and I just feel like Otero is the best fit. I like the small-town feel and I was very impressed with the coaches. When the opportunity presented itself, I was so happy I didn’t have words.”
Edwards averaged 7.7 points per game last season for the Demons. She led the team with 5.3 rebounds per game and was second on the team in points scored (176), field goals made (70), field goal percentage (41) and steals (30).
Edwards joins fellow senior Katrina Chandler as DHS players committed to play at the next level. Chandler signed with Colorado Mesa University early in her senior season. The two helped DHS to a 17-8 record and a second-place finish in the 5A/4A Southwestern League. The Demons hosted and won a playoff game, but lost to eventual tournament runner-up Pueblo South in the second round of the state tournament.
“This was a special group of seniors,” Fitzpatrick said. “For two of them to be able to play college basketball really says a lot about the development of our program.”
Otero’s program is known for feeding talent into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Fort Lewis College men’s team had four Otero transfers (Joshua Blaylock, Brandon Book, Kain Lucero, Brandon Wilson) on this year’s roster. The women’s team had Otero product in starting point guard Shelby Patterson.
“I think Otero is a great fit for Taylor,” Durango High School girls basketball head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said. “Her skills are still blossoming. She’s really become a versatile player with the ability to score inside and on the perimeter. She’s a dynamic player and a hard worker, so I think she’ll continue to get better and better there.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
