Tuesday, Feb 9, 2016 2:05 PMUpdated Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 11:48 AM
Rival Panthers had hot start, Demons finish strong
Durango’s Terrence Trujillo scored inside over Panthers’ Aron Engle in Tuesday’s 63-50 win. Trujillo led the Demons with 17 points.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Guy Bay is a streaky shooter for DHS, but he was clutch from the line in the fourth quarter Tuesday making nine free throws to send the rival Panthers packing.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Trujillo and the Demons turned up the defense in the second quarter making life tough for Jason Engle and the Panthers.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Durango senior Scott Morse banked in an off-balance shot in Tuesday’s win against the Panthers.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Demons’ senior forward Orion Clay has been one of the most consistent players for Alan Batiste’s squad this season. Clay had 15 points scoring two over Jason Engle in Tuesday’s 63-50 win.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Demons guard Kyle Kirkpatrick usually does his work from the perimeter, but scored a short range two on a fast break Tuesday night.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Trujillo paid a visit to the jam packed Durango student section which was rowdy from the opening tip of Tuesday’s rivalry game against Montezuma-Cortez.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Durango’s Seth Gilleland put in heavy minutes off the Demons bench and was a physical force down low grabbing rebounds and blocking shots in Tuesday’s win over the rival Panthers.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Austin Bayles of Montezuma-Cortez put up a shot over Terrence Trujillo in the Durango 63-50 win Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Scott Morse of Durango High School puts up a shot while playing Montezuma-Cortez High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Terrance Trujillo of Durango High School puts up a shot over Aron Engle Montezuma -Cortez High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Ausin Bayles of Montezuma -Cortez High School puts up a shot over Terrance Trujillo of Durango High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Seth Gilleland of Durango High School puts up a shot over Cody Canzona of Montezuma-Cortez High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Lucas Baken of Durango High School puts up a shot over Aron Engle of Montezuma-Cortez High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Durango High School student body showed up in force for the Montezuma-Cortez High School game at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Guy Bay of Durango High School plays defense while playing Montezuma-Cortez High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kyle Kirkpatrick of Durango High School puts up a shotwhile playing Montezuma-Cortez High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jason Engle of Montezuma -Cortez High School puts up a shot over Terrance Trujillo of Durango High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Orion Clay of Durango High School puts up a shot over Jason Engle of Montezuma-Cortez High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Terrance Trujillo of Durango High School makes off with the ball while playing Montezuma-Cortez High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Terrance Trujillo of Durango High School lands in the crowd while playing Montezuma-Cortez High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
In a rowdy atmosphere when tensions are high and emotions can take over the game, Durango senior Terrence Trujillo shines.
Trujillo dug the Demons (12-7, 5-3 Southwestern League) out of a first-quarter hole and scored 10 second-half points as Durango beat Montezuma-Cortez 63-50 on Tuesday night in Durango. The senior guard led the Demons with 17 points and Guy Bay added 15, most of which came from the foul line in the final quarter to put the game away.
“It’s a six-game season for us and, at this point, nothing is guaranteed regardless of the records,” said Durango head coach Alan Batiste. “I’m proud of the guys for finishing the job, but we have to be better at the start.”
As it’s been for much of the season, Durango started slow and the opponents took advantage. The Demons’ defense, however, allowed only five points in the second quarter and never relinquished the lead after grabbing it midway through the frame.
From the opening tip, the Panthers (3-15, 0-8 SWL) looked to use a size advantage with big man Luis Perry. The senior center got the Panthers off to a 10-5 lead, and Batiste was looking for answers.
Trujillo’s seven first-quarter points prevented it from being a very ugly opening quarter and kept it close.
In the second quarter, the Demons woke up.
The defensive intensity and pressure was raised, and Durango started to show who was the more talented team. A 10-0 second-quarter run gave the home team the lead, but the Panthers came roaring back.
Trailing by seven at halftime, Montezuma-Cortez rallied in the third quarter with a 9-0 run that cut the Demons lead to one.
That’s when the Durango seniors responded.
Orion Clay hit a 3-pointer to make it a two-possession game, and Trujillo added five consecutive points to pump the Demons lead back to eight. Clay finished the night with 15 points.
“This has been an awesome rivalry since I’ve been playing here,” said Trujillo, son of Geno and Nicole Trujillo. “I’ve played in a lot of big games, so I’m comfortable, but when it’s this intense it can slip away. I just tried to get the guys to focus and finish.”
In the fourth quarter, that’s what the Demons did.
Bay was 9-for-12 from the foul line, and the team was 13-for-17 at the stripe in crunch time to send their rivals home without making a final comeback.
Perry’s 15 points and seven rebounds led the Panthers in both categories.
Next up for Durango is a 7 p.m. Friday game against Montrose at home. They follow up with Fruita Monument at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
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