Tuesday, Feb 9, 2016 2:07 PMUpdated Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 11:49 AM
Senior makes almost every shot
Shilo Gillen of Durango High School did it all while playing Montezuma-Cortez High School at DHS on Tuesday night.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Katrina Chandler set the tone when she scored 10 first quarter points to get the blowout started.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
DHS sophomore Sienna Johnson of Durango High School blocked the shot of Montezuma-Cortez’ Kiselya Plewe in the 65-18 win.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Taylor Edwards and the Demons defense dominated the Panthers and allowed only one first quarter point Tuesday night.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jordan Baker of Durango High School put the perimeter pressure on Panthers guard Aubree Conklin in Tuesday’s big DHS win.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jessica Lee and the rest of the Demons had many wide open looks like this in the win against Montezuma-Cortez.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Durango point guard Riley Hall went in among the trees and fought for a rebound with Bri Alexander of Montezuma-Cortez High School in the 65-18 win Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Riley Hall had good defensive position, but was called for the blocking foul on this play Tuesday night.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Danica Dudley and the rest of the Durango High School front court blocked a bunch of attempts by the rival Panthers in Tuesday’s walkover of rival Cortez.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Panthers forward Simone Lopez tried to get past Durango’s Tiffany Harris in Tuesday’s rivalry game at DHS.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Katrina Chandler of Durango High School puts up a shot while playing Montezuma-Cortez High School on Tuesday night at DHS. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jordan Baker of Durango High School defends Kiselya Plewe of Montezuma-Cortez High School on Tuesday night at DHS. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Danica Dudley of Durango High School blocks the shot of Gabby Wolf of Montezuma-Cortez High School on Tuesday night at DHS. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Danielle Lee of Durango High Schoo defends Aubree Conklin of Montezuma-Cortez High School on Tuesday night at DHS. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jessica Lee of Durango High School puts up a shot while playing Montezuma-Cortez High School on Tuesday night at DHS. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gabby Wolf of Montezuma-Cortez High School puts up a shot over Lilyan Chick of Durango High School on Tuesday night at DHS. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Shilo Gillen of Durango High School did it all while playing Montezuma-Cortez High School at DHS on Tuesday night. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Lilyan Chick of Durango High School fights for a rebound with Bri Alexander of Montezuma-Cortez High School on Tuesday night at DHS. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
#30 of Montezuma-Cortez High School drives around Emma Hackett of Durango High School on Tuesday night at DHS. Photo Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
It’s a big week for the Durango High School girls basketball team, and it couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.
The Demons didn’t mess around with Montezuma-Cortez on Tuesday night, as a huge start propelled them to an easy 65-18 win. It was a great way to kick off a week in which the Demons will compete against Fruita Monument and Montrose for supremacy in league play.
Senior Shilo Gillen had a night to remember. The guard was unconscious from the perimeter as she poured in a career-high 21 points. Katrina Chandler added 17 points, 10 of which came in a dominant first quarter.
“It was a really good way to start the week,” said Durango head coach Tim Fitzpatrick. “This group is very business-like for a group of teenagers. They obviously still have fun, but it’s a lot more fun when they’re playing offense and defense like they did (Tuesday).”
Chandler’s first quarter outburst paved the way for a 21-1 first quarter onslaught by the Demons. Durango (13-4, 4-2 Class 4A/4A Southwestern League) scored the game’s first five points and, when the Panthers got on the board, Durango blew the gates open with a 16-0 run.
The huge lead allowed Fitzpatrick to rest many of the regulars, but the crowd favorite Gillen couldn’t be taken off the court. She was setting up teammates and knocking down shots from all over the floor. She was 3-for-3 from long range, a perfect 2-for-2 from the line and only missed one shot from the floor.
“This team is like a family to me, and I just want to finish strong,” said Gillen, daughter of Daniel and Sally Gillen. “I just come out and try to do my job, and I was just feeling it (Tuesday night). Everything was going in.”
The Demons held a commanding 34-8 lead at halftime and gave up just 10 points in the second half on the way to the blowout win.
Montezuma-Cortez fell to 7-10 overall with the loss.
Durango will be back on the court at 5:30 p.m. Friday hosting Montrose in a key game in the Class 4A/5A Southwestern League.
