The Durango High School girls basketball team saw its five seniors return after a quarantine earlier in the week. After a whirlwind week to get the players back on the court in time for senior weekend, the Demons then had to face a tough Fruita Monument squad.

Players were able to test out of a 10-day quarantine, which would have ended Saturday, a day early after passing two COVID-19 tests during the week. The players had come in contact with a student who tested positive at school and were forced to miss Tuesday’s game at Pagosa Springs.

Back to full strength, though without the benefit of practice time, DHS (4-7, 1-4 5A/4A Southwestern League) hit the floor but lost for the third consecutive game in a 33-31 defeat to the Wildcats (8-2, 5-1 SWL).

“I want to give thanks to our athletic directors and the district for making the right choice for allowing these kids to play,” DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said. “They were excited for the senior weekend. We had a tough one with Fruita again. We have to find a way to win these close games.”

Six of Durango’s losses have come by four points or less this season, the lone exception Tuesday’s blowout loss to Pagosa Springs without three starters.

Sophomore Mason Rowland led Durango with 12 points. Sydney Flores, a junior, finished with eight points, and senior Brenna Wolf had five points.

“It was a similar game to our first game with Fruita, a real defensive battle,” Fitzpatrick said, referencing his team’s 26-22 loss at Fruita earlier this season. “They do a good job with pressure. We played fairly good defense, we just had a few too many costly turnovers.”

DHS will host Grand Junction (2-8) at noon Saturday for senior day.

“It’s been a whirlwind week. Hopefully we do settle in and get ready to play Grand Junction,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think we are on the outside looking in at the playoffs. We’re really going to have to get some wins this last week if we want to get in.”

jlivingston@durangoherald.com