Durango turned a big halftime deficit into a manageable game when it outscored Bloomfield big in the third quarter. The Demons couldn’t keep up the pace at the foul line in the final eight minutes.
Bloomfield, a state runner-up a year ago in New Mexico’s Class 5A, rode into Durango to face a red-hot Demons team that had just won the Aztec Rumble in the Jungle tournament three days earlier. The Bobcats held Durango to two points in the first quarter and stormed out to a 17-6 lead.
Durango cut into that lead at the foul line, as the Demons went 10-of-12 on free throws in the third quarter to get within 31-26. But Durango could never get closer than four points at 40-36 with 29 seconds to play before the Bobcats secured a 43-36 road victory Tuesday night.
“It was about our mentality,” DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said. “We’re a really young basketball team. This was a great learning experience. We had to match Bloomfield’s toughness, and we had to attack. Finally, we started to attack them a bit, and that’s how we got to the foul line. The first half, it was too much perimeter and we never got there.”
After the Demons (7-7) were within five points going to the fourth quarter, the Bobcats (5-3) jumped back out to a 39-29 lead behind Halle Payne free throws and two key baskets, including a 3-pointer from Lanay Gutierrez. Payne, who averages 20 points per game, finished with 14 points, and 10 of those came at the free-throw line where she was perfect on the night.
Gutierrez finished with 13 points with five in the first quarter and six in the fourth.
“We only returned one starter, and that’s (Payne),” BHS head coach Tom Adair said. “The rest of the girls stepped up well for us tonight. (Gutierrez) making those shots in the fourth was huge for us.”
DHS still trailed 39-31 with only 1:32 to play, but Jael Larson scored back-to-back baskets for the Demons, including a big 3 that cut the deficit to 40-36. Larson finished with seven points.
The Demons had life and needed the Bobcats to miss some free throws. BHS did, but the Demons turned the ball over to end any hopes of a comeback win.
“When we got that 3-pointer from (Larson), everybody got amped up,” said DHS senior Tayler Dossey, who led the team with 16 points. “We were all playing great as a team. We brought our heart, but the last few moments cost us with the turnovers and such.”
After Madison Bedonie had missed her first two free throws in the fourth quarter for Bloomfield, she made her final three to put away the game.
“This is a big win,” Adair said. “Durango is tough and well-coached. Fitzpatrick is an awesome coach who has been around a long time and knows what it takes. He’s got his girls playing really well right now. This was a big one for us.”
Danielle Lee came in and gave the Demons a boost with 10 points in the second half. She scored eight in the Demons’ big third quarter, while Dossey scored eight in the third all from the foul line.
“(Lee and Dossey) are seniors and have that toughness, and they’ve been through these battles before,” Fitzpatrick said. “They kind of know what it takes.”
Dossey said the Demons will have to bring the toughness they found in the second half Tuesday to the Class 5A/4A Southwestern League opener against Fruita Monument (10-4) at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
“This was a great game for us because they play very similar to Fruita,” Fitzpatrick said. “It gave us a good test before going into league.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
