The Durango High School boys basketball team didn’t have the field’s best record heading into the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Class 4A Southwestern/Western Slope League Tournament, but the Demons justified being chosen as the top seed in Thursday’s opening round.
Durango (14-7) made six 3-pointers in a first quarter offensive outburst that carried the top seed to an easy 76-51 win against Delta (9-12). Lucas Baken, Kyle Kirkpatrick and Orion Clay all had 12 points to lead the Demons.
The Demons made their first four attempts of the game from 3-point range in an opening quarter offensive blitz that put the game away early. Durango started the game on a 14-2 run, and the Panthers were never able to get within 10 points again. DHS made six first quarter 3s and led by 20 after the opening frame.
Delta made a second-quarter run that cut the Demons’ lead to 12 points, but Durango made a late first-half push to get the lead up to 17 at halftime.
In the second half, Durango ran away from the Panthers and led by as many as 27 points.
Scott Morse had 10 points and six rebounds, while Steven Wyman added eight points in the win.
Durango will play Glenwood Springs at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Glenwood Springs (12-9) beat Battle Mountain 43-38 in Thursday’s opening round.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 6 Steamboat Springs upset No. 3 Palisade 45-37 and No. 2 Rifle beat No. 7 Montrose 51-37. The two winners will play at 4:30 p.m. for the right to play Durango or Glenwood Springs in the final.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
