Coming off two tough home losses last weekend to Montrose and Fruita Monument, the Durango High School girls basketball team had a chip on its shoulder in Thursday’s opening round of the district tournament.
The Demons allowed no more than four points in each of the first three quarters and rolled past Delta (9-12) in a 48-23 rout to open the Class 4A Southwestern League/Western Slope League Tournament at Central High School in Grand Junction.
Regardless of what happens the rest of the tournament, the first-round win secured Durango’s spot in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Class 4A Girls Basketball State Tournament.
Senior Shilo Gillen led the Demons with 10 points. Taylor Edwards had eight points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Katrina Chandler had seven points and 10 assists to get the Demons back in the win column.
“I thought we responded well after playing two really tough basketball teams last weekend,” head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “Those were very competitive games, and I just wanted us to keep that level of play up no matter who is on the opposing side. We did that (Thursday).”
The Demons (14-6) put the pressure on early and Delta never settled in offensively. The three points allowed in the first quarter by the suffocating Durango defense set the tone for the entire game. Delta only managed to score four in the second and third quarters.
The result was a 42-11 lead for the Demons heading into the final quarter.
The big lead gave Fitzpatrick the opportunity to rest Chandler, his star junior point guard who has carried the load for Durango this season.
“There was a lot riding on this game, and the bench did a great job,” Fitzpatrick said. “Everyone played, and they were focused from the start.”
Stephanie Basye had six points and five rebounds for Durango. Danica Dudley also pulled down five rebounds and added four points. Kristen Slade added six points in the win.
Durango, the second seed will play at 3 p.m. Friday at Central High School against No. 3 Palisade (19-2). Palisade marched past No. 6 Steamboat Springs 33-9 in the first round.
The other side of the bracket will feature No. 1 Montrose against No. 4 Rifle. Montrose defeated No. 8 Summit 44-15, while Rifle took down No. 5 Eagle Valley 41-19. The Montrose-Rifle game will be played at 6 p.m. at Central High School.
jfries@durangoherald.com
