Eager to rediscover their rhythm, the Demons traveled south to Aztec on Thursday for the first of three games at the Lady Tiger Rumble Tournament.
The Durango High School girls basketball team earned a 40-31 victory against Navajo Prep to open the tournament, setting up a Friday rematch with Piedra Vista. The Demons (7-4) own a 46-35 home win against the Panthers from Farmington already this season. That game is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday in Aztec.
Piedra Vista (8-5) defeated Montrose 44-34 in its first-round game Thursday.
“It will be another good test as we’re getting ready to go into the league season,” DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said. “PV is a good team, and we’ve seen each other once, so we’ll see what kind of strategies come out. It’s really about us trying to execute and do things well to be ready for league.”
DHS senior guard Katrina Chandler was on fire Thursday, with 10 points in the first quarter alone. She finished with a game-high 17 points.
Kaitlyn Garcia, making her debut for the Demons, scored 13 points. Fitzpatrick also liked what he saw from Garcia on the defensive end.
“She’s another person who can score the basketball,” Fitzpatrick said. ”She causes a lot of problems on the defensive end. She had quite a few steals and blocks. And she also helps take some pressure off of Katrina.”
Navajo Prep (7-2) was led by Chantel Wagner’s 14 points.
“They’re a good team, ranked No. 6 in 4A down here,” Fitzpatrick said of the Eagles. “Our team defense was good, and on the other end, we went inside and that opened up some things on the outside for us.”
jlivingston @durangoherald.com
