A close game got away from the Durango High School girls basketball team Tuesday night in the Demons’ home opener.
Durango (1-3) was tied with the visiting Farmington Scorpions at 8-8 late in the first quarter, but the undefeated Scorpions (6-0) rolled the rest of the way to secure a 56-27 road win.
“We came out and started the game off really well,” DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said. “We ran out of steam there in the third quarter, especially, and even the fourth.”
The Demons forced Farmington into early foul trouble but couldn’t capitalize, and DHS couldn’t buy a basket for long stretches during the game.
“Farmington turned up their defensive intensity, and we kind of got sped up a little bit,” Fitzpatrick said. “So, we kind of hurried some shots.”
Durango played solid defense against Farmington captain Jordan Vasquez and held her to six points, but Chloe Finch got free and scored a game-high 17 points with some easy looks under the basket.
DHS had eight players score in the game, led by five points each from Tayler Dossey and Danielle Lee. Maddy McManus added four points. Emma Hackett and Brenna Wolf each had three points.
“We saw a lot of good things to build off of,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s just gaining experience playing in a high-paced game. Doing a little pre-league scouting, I think some teams in the league are going to play a little bit high pace, and we kind of do, too. We got up and pressured them, and that’s kind of what we’re gonna have to do. Farmington is a real good team; they’re just better at it than us.”
DHS has short time to recover and prepare for the Pueblo County Holiday Tournament with four games in three days Thursday through Saturday. Durango will open the tournament against the host at 8 p.m. Thursday and will face Colorado Springs’ Palmer High School at 3:30 p.m. Friday and Air Academy at 10:30 a.m. Saturday before finding out its Saturday afternoon opponent.
“Air Academy is No. 3 in the state, and Pueblo West is on the other side of the bracket and they’re No. 1 in the state right now,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’re gonna see some good competition.”
The first game on their home floor was the first win of the season for the Wolverines.
Led by 16 points from Maddy Oltmanns and another 14 points from Tymbree Florian, Bayfield High School’s girls basketball team earned a 58-33 win against Mancos.
Macee Schultz added nine points, and Aubree Farmer had seven for Bayfield (1-3). Eight players scored in the game for Bayfield. Mancos (0-5) was led by 11 points from Madi Hale. Isis Jamie added seven points.
Bayfield opened the game with a 16-7 lead after one quarter and made it 27-15 by halftime.
The Wolverines have to go on the road for their next two games Dec. 14-15 at San Juan High in Blanding, Utah, and again in Utah at Monticello. BHS will open league play at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at home against Alamosa.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
