A snow day cooled down the court inside the Demon Dome on Tuesday. It’s expected to heat up in a big way Wednesday.
Fresh off a second-round destruction of No. 29 Elizabeth, the No. 4 Durango High School boys basketball team (21-3) is set for Sweet 16 action against No. 13 Evergreen (19-5) in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A Boys Basketball State Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m., and fans are asked to wear white to the game.
“We wanted to do a blackout, but I don’t think CHSAA will let us wear our road uniforms,” DHS head coach Alan Batiste said. “We won in white, so I like staying in white.”
DHS didn’t have an official practice Tuesday because of school policy related to team activities on a day with a weather-related school cancellation. That day off could serve as good physical rest while the team gets mentally prepared for the Cougars.
“It’s good to get away for a day,” Batiste said. “But I have a feeling they’re getting together anyway. That’s the leadership they’ve shown.”
The big task for the Demons is slowing down 6-foot-6 senior forward Michael Dillon, who averages 15.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. The Demons have been tough defensively all year, and making jump shots will continue to be a key to the success of DHS.
“(Dillon) is a craft kid,” Batiste said. “We need to play the way we’ve been playing all year. We’ll play straight-up defense. If they make shots, they make them. But we want to make sure they have a contested hand in their face every shot.”
DHS earned a bye in the first round of the tournament, as did Evergreen. In the second round, DHS rolled by Elizabeth 60-43, while Evergreen edged Fort Morgan 59-53.
Here’s a closer look at Wednesday’s matchup:
No. 4 Durango
Mascot: Demons
Head coach: Alan Batiste, 7th year
Colors: Red, white
Enrollment: 1,110
Record: 21-3, 5A/4A SWL champions
Leading scorer: Kyle Kirkpatrick, 14.7 points per game
Rebound leader: Steven Wyman, 6.6 per game
Assist leader: Zach Geauthreaux, 1.3 per game
Points per game: 53.33
Points allowed per game: 42.46
Roster: No. 2 Malik Liggins, sr.; No. 3 Zach Geauthreaux, sr.; No. 4 Jordan Shefferd, sr.; No. 5 Kyle Kirkpatrick, sr.; No. 10 Kobe Szura, sr.; No. 11 Seth Johnson, jr.; No. 15 Tyler Ruetschle, sr.; No. 20 Liam Southwick, sr.; No. 21 Weston Simmons, sr.; No. 22 Steven Wyman, sr.; No. 23 Javier Quezada, sr.; No. 30 Will Meyer, jr.; No. 31 Cullen Robinette, so.; No. 32 Josh Whidden, sr.
No. 13 Evergreen
Mascot: Cougars
Head coach: Scott Haebe, 25th year
Colors: Navy, Vegas gold
Enrollment: 1,014
Record: 19-5, 3rd place 4A Jeffco League
Leading Scorer: Michael Dillon, 15.3 points per game
Rebound Leader: Dillon, 8.2 per game
Assist leader: Rhys Sayler, 3.7 per game
Points Per Game: 65.3
Points allowed per game: 51.96
Roster: No. 1 Josh Fox, jr.; No. 3 Chase Rogers, jr.; No. 4 Jack Patterson, jr.; No. 10 Bridger Tenney, jr.; No. 14 Ethan Brown, jr.; No. 15 Rhys Sayler, sr.; No. 20 Lucas Berninzoni, sr.; No. 22 Andrew Aafedt, jr.; No. 23 Zach Klein, jr.; No. 30 Brett Bokelman, so.; No. 32 Tyler Green, so.; No. 34 Michael Dillon, sr.; No. 45 Reese Wilson, sr.; No. 50 Theo Miller, so.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
If you go
Who: No. 13 Evergreen at No. 4 Durango
What: CHSAA Class 4A boys basketball state tournament, Sweet 16
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Durango High School gymnasium
Twitter: @jlivi2
Listen Live: KKDG 99.7 FM
More info: Fans are asked to wear white
