The Durango High School girls basketball team is off to a terrific start to the 2016 season and junior forward Stephanie Basye has been a big reason why the Demons are doing things they haven’t done in years.
Durango is 9-2 and 2-0 in Southwestern League play after sweeping the opening weekend of play, and Basye was a major part of the Demons’ success in the opening weekend’s dominant performances. She scored 16 points, grabbed a team high six rebounds, had two steals and a block in Friday’s league opener against Grand Junction as the Demons cruised to a 47-24 win.
It was the first time Durango beat Grand Junction since 2010 and the third game in a row Basye scored more than 10 points. The junior has scored in double figures in almost half of the team’s games this year. She was also a key contributor in Saturday’s 51-42 win against Grand Junction Central that capped off an opening weekend sweep that sent a message to the other teams in the conference.
She leads the Demons in blocks and is second in scoring, steals and assists to good friend and longtime teammate Katrina Chandler. Together, Basye, Chandler and Taylor Edwards lead the tight-knit group of juniors and have been doing so for quite some time.
“I was asked to play on a team in 7th grade that ended up having Katrina and Taylor Edwards,” said Basye, daughter of Steve and Tanya Basye. “We played all summer that year and we all just clicked on and off the court. We’ve been winning games together for awhile and we’re best of friends, too. We’ve been playing together for so long and we just know each other so well that it’s become like second nature out there.”
Basye has been playing varsity basketball at Durango High School since her freshman year with Chandler. Soon enough, the other members of their 7th grade travel team were brought up to the varsity squad and the Demons were off and running as sophomores for head coach Tim Fitzpatrick.
“Stephanie brings it every night and when she’s aggressive she makes a lot of good things happen for everyone,” Fitzpatrick said after Saturday’s win. “She plays hard on defense and she’s improved her game on offense. She’s a great teammate and a fierce competitor.”
She may be considered undersized at the forward position compared to many of her opponents, but Basye makes up for that with quickness and aggressive play. She’s not afraid of anyone on the floor and her solid fundamentals allow her to outplay girls who are much bigger than she is.
“I know I’m not the biggest or strongest girl out there,” said Basye. “But, I’m getting quicker and I’ve been working on that as well as positioning down low. If I have good position, it doesn’t matter how big they are.”
What does matter is the success the Demons have had this season with only two seniors. With two years left together, Basye and company will be talked about as one of Durango High School’s best teams in the near future.
“We want to win our league and who knows what can happen after that,” Basye said. “I love these girls and if I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t be half the player that I am today. I might not even be playing.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
Who is your favorite athlete?: My teammate and friend Katrina Chandler.
What is your favorite sports movie?: Space Jam.
Which teacher has made the greatest impact on your life?: Probably Ponch Garcia who was my 7th grade coach.
What is your favorite book from childhood?: Stephanie’s Ponytail. It’s about being unique and not following what everyone else is doing.
What song is stuck in your head right now?: The song we come out to for the game is called Shell Shocked and it’s from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie I think.
Where is the worst place to play a road game?: Probably Cortez because their crowd gets pretty crazy.
Do you have any hidden talents?: I used to play the piano, violin and the trumpet.
What is your favorite subject in school?: Chemistry.
What is the best restaurant in Durango?: Mutu’s.
Who is your celebrity crush?: Zac Efron.
