The Durango High School girls basketball team got tested by Pagosa Springs High School on Wednesday on the road.
DHS went into the game on a seven-game winning streak while the Pirates were searching for their first win in eight tries, but their records didn’t mean anything during the game.
The Demons jumped out to an 11-0 first-quarter lead, but Pagosa clawed back and eventually cut the deficit to two points early in the fourth quarter before the Demons pulled away late to win the game, 39-30.
“I’d like to give Pagosa credit; I thought they played us well,” said DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick. “Their record is not indicative of who they are.”
Riley Campbell knocked down a pair of early field goals and added a free throw for DHS. Halle Peterson and Tyler Trujillo also knocked down threes in the opening frame while DHS worked hard on defense to keep Pagosa from scoring.
The Pirates, however, scored the first two baskets in the second quarter to spark a 10-3 run and cut DHS’ lead to 14-10. Katelynn Sheppard made a long-two and then Peterson sunk her second shot of the quarter rebuild Durango’s lead to 18-10. Karsyn Shahan then made a layup with just two seconds remaining in the half for Pagosa to help the Pirates win the quarter and head into halftime only trailing 18-13.
Both teams then went on runs in the third. Sheppard drained a trey to start the half. Mason Rowland, who was held scoreless in the first half, scored on a fast-break and Carter Neiman followed with a short jumper to put DHS up 25-13.
Shahan and Rowland traded threes in the middle of the third, but Pagosa went on an 8-0 run to finish the quarter and head into the fourth only down 28-24. Daveyann Snarr sunk a three-pointer, Annie O’Donnell made a bucket and Shahan scored two-and-one during Pagosa’s third-quarter run. Chantelle Caldwell then made the opening basket of the fourth to make it a one-basket game, 28-26
DHS responded with Campbell assisting Rowland on a catch-and-shoot three-pointer. Pagosa cut the lead to two once more, 31-29, but earned its seventh team foul soon after, and Durango took advantage of its chances at the free-throw line to finish on top.
Rowland made six straight free throws in the fourth to finish with 14 points. Peterson also knocked down a pair from the charity stripe late in the fourth and finished with nine points. Campbell and Sheppard both scored five for DHS, Trujillo scored three, Carter Neiman chipped in two and Adde Neiman added one.
Shahan scored 14 to lead the Pirates.
“We were resilient,” Fitzpatrick said. “We found a way to keep the lead and win when we didn’t shoot particularly well, or play our best.”
The game was Durango’s eighth win in a row, improving its record to 8-1 overall heading into the holiday break while Pagosa slid to 0-8 after five straight single-digit losses. The game was also Durango’s eighth consecutive game on the road.
“We’re tired; we’ve already traveled over 1,000 miles,” Fitzpatrick said. “This is a much-needed break.”
DHS will return to action Jan. 10 against Bloomfield in New Mexico. DHS will then visit Eagle Valley and Battle Mountain Jan. 13-14 before returning to the Demon Dome on Jan. 20 to host Grand Junction Central (6-2).
In the latest CHSAANow.com rankings, DHS is No. 5 in Class 5A while Central (6-2) is No. 10. Southwestern League foes Montrose (8-1) and Fruita-Monument (7-2) also received votes.
“It’s going well, we just have to keep focused on getting better,” Fitzpatrick said. “We have a chance to do something special if we keep improving.”
