One day after getting beaten badly by Fruita Monument, Durango’s girls basketball team had to get over the loss in a hurry to be ready for a noon game Saturday against the league’s first-place team.
The young Demons bounced back nicely and hung in with an older and very talented Montrose team but couldn’t match the size and experience, as the Indians won 44-37.
Katrina Chandler led Durango with 13 points. Taylor Edwards and Sienna Johnson finished with nine each in a game that the youthful Demons squad can take a great deal away from.
Two Montrose seniors who have already committed to play at the next level got the best of the gritty Demons. Colorado Mesa recruit Holly Brooks led all scorers with 18 points, and future Portland State player Elle Pace finished with 16.
“We had to come up here and play two very tough and talented teams,” Durango head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “Our effort and work on the boards was much better than the performance we had (Friday) night. We’re gaining a ton of experience and moving in the right direction.”
The Demons (10-4, 2-2 5A/4A Southwestern League) responded nicely after getting beaten badly by Fruita, 46-22, on Friday. Montrose (11-4, 4-0 SWL) is perfect this year in the Southwestern League, but the Demons held their own and put some fear in the league’s top team. Durango held a one-point lead after one quarter, and the game was tied at halftime.
Johnson, who is only a sophomore, kept Durango in the game with a first half shooting barrage from long range. Her three 3-pointers were key in a first half that was very tightly contested.
In the end, it was the experience of the Indians that prevailed.
“I’m proud of the girls, and we were right there with them for most of the game,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was a really good basketball game. It was nice to see us give them a tough game in their gym. They’ll have to come down to ours next time, and hopefully we can get one back.”
Durango will head to Grand Junction next weekend for a 6 p.m. game Friday at Grand Junction and a noon tip Saturday at Grand Junction Central.
jfries@durangoherald.com
