The season for the Durango High School boys tennis team came to an end during the second day of the CHSAA 4A boys state championships Friday in Pueblo.
After no Demons picked up a win in the first round Thursday, they were left waiting to see if any players would earn a spot in the playback bracket, and two of the doubles teams got their chance.
However, neither team could pick up a win to advance in the bracket and keep the season going.
Durango’s No. 4 doubles team of Noah Pritchard and Corbin Reiter matched up with Aspen’s Bryce Cordts-Pearce and Luke Tralins. The Demons took the first set from Aspen 6-3, but dropped the second and third sets 6-1, 6-1.
It was the third time the two doubles teams met this season. DHS head coach Alan Batiste said the Aspen team won both of the previous matches 6-0, 6-0 and thought the familiarity between the two teams helped the Demons pick up the win in the first set.
“They were just playing really well,” Batiste said of Pritchard and Reiter during the first set. “Shots were falling for them and their serves were getting in. Then Aspen went on a little run in the second set and they started to hit a little bit. That’s why it ended up being 6-1, 6-1 after that.”
In No. 1 doubles, Luke Jernigan and Tommy Rodgers met Dawson’s Gavyn Pure and Finn Jones and fell in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.
Batiste said both Pure and Jones were about 6-foot-3 and their ability to use their length to cover the court made it difficult for the Demons to get shots past them.
“They had to go up against another great team from Dawson and they competed, but there’s only so much they could do playing against that level of competition,” Batiste said of Jernigan and Rodgers. “But I think they’re proud of their performance.”
Durango’s No. 3 doubles team of Joe Lawton and Elias Fiddler, and No. 1 singles player Ethan Craig did not make the playback bracket.
Looking back to the start of the season and comparing the Demons’ early season version to the end of the season, Batiste said he saw massive improvement in the team’s play and mental toughness.
“I thought it was awesome,” Batiste said of the improvement. “To get seven guys to state, that’s a great season. The guys can’t hold their heads down. They accomplished a lot, we got more wins this season and they got much better as tennis players. This was a great group. The seniors helped bring along the freshman that came into the season. I’m proud of the boys.”
Volleyball
VolleyballUnforced errors from the Durango High School volleyball team doomed the Demons to a 25-17, 25-18, 25-14 loss to Fruita Monument Friday night in Fruita.
The match was for sole possession of first place in the 5A/4A Southwestern League standings and was the first league loss for Durango, which fell to 10-4 overall and 4-1 in SWL play.
The win moved the Wildcats to 15-1 overall and 6-0 in league play.
Brianna Brown had 12 assists for Durango. Lana Razma finished the night with five kills.
Durango will close out its weekend road trip with a match against Grand Junction High School on Saturday in Grand Junction. The Demons beat the Tigers 3-1 earlier this season in Durango.
Boys Soccer
Boys SoccerThe Wolverines’ sensational boys soccer season continued Friday with an 8-0 win at Bloomfield in New Mexico.
BHS scored four goals in each half to blow out the Bobcats. The Wolverines improved to 10-3 overall and remained undefeated in non-league play.
Statistics from the game were not available at press time Friday.
The Wolverines have two games left in the regular season with playoff aspirations alive. The Wolverines will host Crested Butte in a key league game at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
kschneider@durangoherald.com
