Fruita Monument is one of only two teams that managed to beat the Durango High School girls basketball team this season. On Saturday at DHS, with the 5A/6A Southwestern League title on the line, the Demons paid Fruita back and beat the Wildcats 48-41 in both teams’ regular-season finale.
Both teams finished 7-1 in the SWL, but because Fruita only beat DHS by two in the first meeting, 30-28, and DHS won the rematch by seven, the Demons scored the league title with head-to-head point differential serving as the tiebreaker. The league title is Durango’s first in girls basketball since 1998.
“I think we wanted our redemption,” said DHS senior Mason Rowland. “It’s exciting. This is a special group of girls.”
The Demons started the game strong on Saturday and took a 7-0 lead. Rowland received a nice pass for the first score, junior Carter Neiman sunk a basket and then Rowland swished a 3-pointer. Fruita started trapping the Demons, but senior Halle Peterson found a seam to assist Rowland. Later, Neiman was left wide open for another score. Sophomore Ellie White also knocked down a pair of shots and DHS led 15-7 after the first quarter.
“I think we had the right mentality,” said DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick. “We attacked.”
DHS added to its lead in the second quarter. Sophomore Tyler Trujillo dove on a loose ball to get a jump ball. Neiman hustled back to break up a Fruita fast-break opportunity. Senior Riley Campbell then made basket, followed by a 3-pointer by sophomore Lily Fitzpatrick. Rowland scored four down the stretch and White one as DHS took a 25-12 lead into halftime.
DHS maintained its lead early in the third, getting another basket from Campbell followed by a corner three and a jumper from Rowland. Fruita, who entered the game 18-3 overall, then went on a 9-0 run and scored 11 of the quarter’s final 13 points to go into the fourth only trailing DHS 33-29.
The Wildcats stayed close to DHS in the fourth, but the Demons never relinquished their lead.
“I have the ultimate closer and, in my eyes, the 5A player of the year in Mason,” Fitzpatrick said. “She takes over and she finishes.”
Rowland scored the first bucket of the fourth and, after a pair of Fruita free throws, sunk a base-line floater. Fruita then cut Durango’s lead to 37-34, but Neiman scored a bucket and then made a steal on the ensuing possession.
“Our defense fuels our offense, and that’s what happened today,” Rowland said.
Fruita kept battling and made it a one-basket game, 42-39, when Angelina Fortunato hit a 3-pointer with 1:00 left.
Trujillo, however, made a pair of clutch free throws for DHS to make it 44-39. Rowland then assisted White on a score.
Then, with one second left on the clock and the fans at DHS standing and applauding, Rowland made two more free throws for the final margin.
Rowland scored 22 points to lead Durango’s offense. White scored seven, Neiman scored six and grabbed some rebounds early that limited Fruita’s opportunities to score.
The coach also gave kudos to his bench. “They make an impact,” he said.
To get to play Fruita for the league title, however, DHS also had to beat Montrose on Friday. The Demons did just that, 32-23.
DHS started strong against the Red Hawks as well and led 9-3 after the first quarter and 13-8 at halftime. Montrose tied the game a couple times in the third quarter and the teams went into the fourth even, 18-18.
Rowland then took over, scoring the first six points of the fourth and nine in the quarter. Peterson and Campbell also made some late baskets as DHS pulled away late.
Rowland scored 22 against the Red Hawks to lead the offense again.
“It was just a really good weekend for us,” Fitzpatrick said. “We had a tough one last night and then came back and got this one today.”
The Demons, ranked the No. 4 in Class 5A, finish the regular season 20-2 overall and 7-1 in the 5A/6A SWL to win the league. Fruita finishes 18-4, 7-1, followed by Montrose (15-8, 3-5), Central Grand Junction (12-10, 3-5) and Grand Junction (0-23, 0-8).
DHS, however, isn’t done. The brackets for the Class 5A state tournament will be released Sunday and DHS expects to host a first-round game Tuesday evening.
“This group of girls is awesome; I love everyone,” Rowland said. “We want to keep it going.”
