It didn’t matter how bloody, bruised and battered the Durango High School girls basketball team was Saturday against No. 1 Sand Creek, the Demons kept fighting.
The scrappy, young Durango (16-8) squad stayed right there with the top team in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A State Tournament for a long time Saturday, just not long enough. A big second half for the home team ended Durango’s season, as the Demons lost to the Scorpions 72-61 in the Sweet 16 of the CHSAA 4A Girls State Basketball Tournament.
Durango junior Katrina Chandler led the team with 21 points before heading to urgent care for stitches after the final buzzer sounded. Taylor Edwards finished with 12 points, and Stephanie Basye had eight in the team’s final game.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how many people commented on how tough these girls are,” Durango head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “We call it ‘Charmin tough,’ and everyone should be proud of the way they’ve battled this year. I think we won the state championship for miles traveled, but we never let it get to us and we never made excuses. We improved all season, and our best game was our last.”
The Demons were outclassed in experience, but they’re used to that by now. Durango matched Sand Creek shot for shot in a first half that saw Chandler split her chin open on the floor and Sienna Johnson take a shot to the nose that also drew blood.
With the opponents banged up and behind on the scoreboard, Sand Creek (23-1) took advantage with a huge offensive third quarter. The Scorpions exploded for 23 third-quarter points to build a double-digit lead, and the visitors couldn’t recover for a final push.
With only two seniors, Danica Dudley and Shilo Gillen, the Demons will use the experience of losing in the Sweet 16 to the state’s top team as fuel for next season.
“Shilo and Danica will not be forgotten by this group, and they’ve been like mother hens to these younger girls,” Fitzpatrick said. “They’re leaving us in a good spot, and, looking forward, it’s really encouraging to know that we have a lot of players coming back next season, and we’re already excited about it.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
