FARMINGTON – Farmington High School opened its girls basketball season with a decisive 49-34 win over Durango on Tuesday night at Scorpion Arena.
Senior Kjani Anitielu led the Scorpions (1-0) with 21 points, while Caris Dale added 11 points and several steals in a strong two-way performance.
Durango’s seniors pushed back, with Claire Goodwin scoring 13 points and Ryne Neiman adding eight as the Demons (0-1) tried to keep pace with a short bench.
The win marked a familiar start for both programs; Farmington topped Durango 49-45 last season in the teams' opener. This year, Durango is adjusting to a new lineup after graduating several starters, while Farmington returns 11 seniors and hopes to extend a strong postseason run.
The first quarter remained tight, locked at 4-4 with 2:30 left. Farmington struggled against Durango’s man-to-man defense, shooting 36% from the field and 50% from the line.
“Durango plays excellent man defense, and that bothered us some because we usually shoot a little better than we did, especially in that first half,” Farmington coach Thomas Adair said. “But we hung in there with our defense, too.”
Durango senior Neiman scored four points in the opening frame, but momentum shifted late. Farmington’s Chenoa Parrish fed Harmony Thomas for a basket, and seconds later, Dale swiped a steal and pushed the ball to Parrish, who scored and drew a foul. Her three-point play lifted the Scorpions to a 12-7 lead to close the quarter.
Dale continued to dominate defensively in the second quarter, securing three steals that led to four points and extended the lead to 16-9 with nearly five minutes left before halftime.
The Demons committed at least 17 turnovers in the half, many stemming from rushed passes or Farmington steals. Durango coach Lauren Moran said the team is still adjusting to its new rotation.
“This particular group has never played together before,” Moran said. “We’re figuring out people’s roles that are going to be different this year.”
Durango eventually answered. Goodwin swung momentum with a three-pointer and a strong drive for five points, and freshman Camryn Sheppard added a three of her own. Missed free throws hurt both offenses, as each side went 0-for-4 at the line in the second quarter. Farmington held a 20-15 lead at halftime.
The Scorpions returned with sharper execution, outscoring Durango 15-7 in the third quarter. Goodwin kept the Demons afloat with another five points, but Durango's pace faded as Farmington ramped up pressure, forced 10 turnovers, and shot 71% from the field in the period. Dale delivered nine points, and Anitielu added four as the Scorpions built a 35-22 lead entering the final quarter.
Neiman returned as a steady force inside, adding four points as Durango shifted into a full-court press. The Scorpions adjusted, and Anitielu took over late, burying three straight three-pointers for nine points and tipping in another shot. With under two minutes remaining, Farmington held a 46-32 lead before Anitielu drained her final three, closing the night at 49-34.
Moran said that despite the loss, she saw positives and plans to use the game to develop her lineup. Durango will next host Piedra Vista at 7 p.m. Tuesday before competing in the Marv Sanders Tournament, where the Demons face Navajo Prep in the first round next Thursday.
“We make the effort to play in a front-range tournament to face teams we might ultimately see at state,” Moran said. “Even in a rural area, there’s strong competition just an hour away, and we look forward to being back here in a week.”
Farmington shifts focus to an away trip to Santa Fe for the Bobby Rodriguez Tournament, starting Thursday at 2 p.m. against Highland High, before returning home for the Marv Sanders Lady Scorpion Invitational Tournament.
| TEAM | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | FINAL |
| Demons | 7 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 34 |
| Scorps | 12 | 8 | 15 | 14 | 49 |
