Only one basketball team in every playoff tournament gets to experience the feeling. It’s what the late ABC Wide World of Sports host Jim McKay famously touted as “the thrill of victory.” For the rest, of course, it is “the agony of defeat.”
That is a shame. Because to make the playoffs in the first place is indicative of hard work, dedication and a successful season.
Both the girls’ varsity team at Durango High School and the women at Fort Lewis College ended their seasons on Tuesday night.
The Demons lost 45-28 to Pueblo South, and the Skyhawks were defeated 71-61 by Regis in tournament play.
No doubt both losses still sting, but we hope not for long. Because both teams had outstanding seasons; seasons that made not just the schools, but the whole community proud.
DHS finished the year at 17-8 overall and earned a bye in the first round of the Colorado High School Activities Association class 4A tournament. On Feb. 24, coach Tim Fitzpatrick’s girls put it all together as Durango jumped out to a 34-10 halftime lead against Thompson Valley. In a fitting definition of team, all the Demons played in the 56-34 victory in front of their home crowd.
Up on the rim, the Skyhawks flew as high as their mascot this season. Predicted to finish far down in the standings, the women instead turned in the program’s best season since 2011-12, finishing at 21-7.
They also took advantage of national television exposure on Feb. 17, beating Colorado School of Mines 72-60 before a rocking, standing-room-only crowd at Whalen Gymnasium.
This week, guard Kayla Herrera was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, junior Briana Clah was named to the All-RMAC First Team and Alyssa Yocky earned a spot on the All-RMAC Second Team.
Perhaps the best news for Fort Lewis did not need an announcement. As the rest of the conference is probably well aware, all the young Skyhawks, with the exception of senior Ande Lampert, will be back next year, and Coach Jason Flores can’t wait.
We know the feeling.
