Although it seems like winter never came to Durango, local winter sports will be over sooner, rather than later.
Durango High School’s boys and girls basketball teams will celebrate their seniors on Friday against Fruita Monument, and the Demons’ ice hockey team will have its final home game on Friday. Both basketball teams still have a chance at making the playoffs, with the girls’ chances of making it and winning a game a lot higher.
Local high school wrestling teams will also move on to regionals this weekend, with many wrestlers having aspirations of placing at state.
Fort Lewis College’s basketball teams have key road games on Thursday and Saturday. The men look to bounce back from their first conference losses, and the women are trying to stay in position for the conference tournament.
Here’s the local sports schedule for the upcoming week:
Thursday: Women’s basketball at No. 4 Colorado Mesa at 5:30 p.m.
Notes: The Skyhawks women’s basketball is coming off a 1-1 road trip, losing 91-68 at Adams State on Thursday and winning 78-58 at New Mexico Highlands on Saturday. FLC moved to 14-8 overall and 7-7 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
On offense, the Skyhawks’ last road trip was a microcosm for their season. FLC has had success from behind the 3-point line (35% against New Mexico Highlands) at times, but has also gone ice cold in some losses (9% against Adams State).
FLC will have its toughest test of the season against Colorado Mesa. The Mavericks are 24-1 overall, 14-0 in the RMAC and are on a 21-game winning streak. Colorado Mesa has dominated its RMAC opponents by an average of 25.5 points per game, with only one RMAC victory by less than 10 points.
Colorado Mesa has the two-time reigning RMAC Player of the Year in forward Olivia Reed-Thyne, who’s averaging an RMAC-best 20.4 PPG and 10.5 rebounds per game. She also has the help of former Durango High School star guard Mason Rowland. The redshirt sophomore is averaging 17.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 3.8 assists per game.
Last season, the Mavericks beat the Skyhawks twice.
Men’s basketball at Colorado Mesa at 7:30 p.m.
Notes: The Skyhawks are looking to bounce back from their first two losses in conference play last week, with a 95-93 loss at Adams State on Thursday and a 93-88 overtime loss at New Mexico Highlands on Saturday. FLC dropped to 14-7 overall and 12-2 in the RMAC after the two losses.
FLC’s defense took a step back with multiple players dealing with illnesses. The Skyhawks allowed Adams State to shoot 47% from the field and New Mexico Highlands 46% from the field. It’s the first time FLC has allowed at least 90 points since its 105-84 loss to West Texas A&M on Nov. 29.
Colorado Mesa enters the matchup 15-7 overall and 11-3 in the RMAC. The Mavericks have won five consecutive games and are led by Ty Allred, who’s averaging 18.5 PPG (second best in the RMAC) and 8.0 RPG (second best in the RMAC).
It’s a very important game for both teams, with the Skyhawks only a game ahead of the Mavericks in the conference standings. If FLC wins, it would have a three-game lead on Colorado Mesa and a two-game lead on the rest of the conference.
Last season, Colorado Mesa outrebounded FLC by 36 in a regular-season win, while FLC won 89-65 in the RMAC tournament.
Friday: Men’s, women’s track and field at Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque
Men’s, women’s track and field at Grand Valley State University Big Meet in Allendale, Michigan
Saturday: Men’s, women’s track and field at Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque
Men’s, women’s track and field at Grand Valley State University Big Meet in Allendale, Michigan
Women’s basketball at Western Colorado at 1 p.m.
Men’s basketball at Western Colorado at 3 p.m.
Wednesday: Durango girls basketball at Pueblo East at 4:30 p.m.
Durango boys basketball at Pueblo East at 6 p.m.
Thursday: Durango girls swimming and diving at state championships
Bayfield girls basketball vs. Ignacio at 5:45 p.m.
Bayfield boys basketball vs. Ignacio at 7 p.m.
Friday: Durango Alpine skiing at Leadville
Bayfield boys wrestling at regionals at Delta High School
Bayfield girls wrestling at regionals at North Fork High School
Durango girls wrestling at regionals at Lewis-Palmer High School
Durango boys wrestling at regionals at Falcon High School
Ignacio girls wrestling at regionals at North Fork High School
Ignacio boys wrestling regionals at Cedaredge High School
Durango ice hockey vs. Pueblo County at 12:15 p.m.
Ignacio girls basketball vs. Centauri
Ignacio boys basketball vs. Centauri at 4 p.m.
Durango girls basketball vs. Fruita Monument at 5:30 p.m.
Bayfield girls basketball vs. Monte Vista at 5:30 p.m.
Bayfield boys basketball vs. Monte Vista at 7 p.m.
Durango boys basketball vs. Fruita Monument at 7 p.m.
Saturday: Bayfield boys wrestling at regionals at Delta High School
Bayfield girls wrestling at regionals at North Fork High School
Durango girls wrestling at regionals at Lewis-Palmer High School
Durango boys wrestling at regionals at Falcon High School
Ignacio boys wrestling regionals at Cedaredge High School
Ignacio girls wrestling regionals at North Fork High School
Durango girls basketball vs. Grand Junction at noon
Durango boys basketball vs. Grand Junction at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Ignacio girls basketball vs. Montezuma-Cortez at 5:30 p.m.
Ignacio boys basketball vs. Montezuma-Cortez at 7 p.m.
