All eyes will be focused at Whalen Gymnasium at Fort Lewis College Tuesday as the Ignacio High School girls basketball team will eye revenge on Durango High School from a season ago.
Both teams are evenly matched as Ignacio (6-2, 3-0 2A/1A San Juan Basin) enters the game on a five game winning streak whereas Durango (6-2) is coming off a loss to Pierdra Vista, 52-50, last week.
Durango has yet to square off against a 5A/4A Southwestern opponent all season so the early matchup against their local rival will carry even more importance.
The last time these two teams met was on the same floor nearly a year ago with Durango winning, 48-33, behind Katie Wiegert’s 31 points. Ignacio’s Sky Cotton had 11 points and four rebounds.
“Katie had a fantastic game last year and I don’t think we can duplicate what she did individually,” Durango head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “I’m not sure if there’s much of a rivalry, but I know they always have a good team and it’ll be a great test for us heading into our league season.”
Durango doesn’t have Wiegert anymore, but the Demons do have junior Katrina Chandler who leads the team in nearly every statistical category.
Chandler is averaging 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game. Chandler also had 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals in last year’s meeting.
“She’s a special player,” Ignacio head coach Shane Seibel said. “We will do our best to always be aware of where she is at all times and make sure she doesn’t get any open looks.”
Along with Chandler, the Demons will lean on senior Danica Dudley, juniors Taylor Edwards, Riley Hall and Stephanie Bayse. The Demons have a size advantage on the boards as they average 29.8 rebounds per game as Ignacio averages only 23.5. Durango also leads Ignacio in assists with 8.8 to 7.
“I see our team always trying to get better each day and each game,” said Seibel. “Durango is getting better, too. I’m hoping we can be competitive and then have a close game and let the fourth quarter determine the winner of the game. If we have it close, we feel we can match up good with them this year.”
Ignacio averages more points scored per game with 38.7 to Durango’s 37.9.
Durango will have to keep the ball secure as Ignacio will try to forced turnovers all night. The Bobcats average 9.5 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
“I’m happy with where we’re at especially considering that we haven’t played a home game yet,” Fitzpatrick said. “The kids are working hard and I feel like we’re getting better. I’m proud of the effort.”
Both teams played one common opponent: Pagosa Springs.
Neither team were able to crack the Pirates, but the Bobcats fared better than the Demons; the Bobcats lost 58-37 and the Demons lost 55-18.
In its game against Pagosa Springs, Ignacio’s Ellie Seibel had 10 points and Hilde Garcia had four rebounds and three assists.
The Demons didn’t play as good of game against the Pirates as Chandler was held to just two points for Durango.
Garcia has been one of Ignacio’s most versatile player as she has been averaging 9 points, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. Ellie Seibel leads the Bobcats with 6.2 rebounds per game and Chrystianne Valdez has 3.2 steals per game.
Despite the stats being evenly matched, Ignacio has its work cut as a 2A school.
“They are Class 4A, a big school and very talented team,” said Seibel. “We feel we’re a talented team, too. For us, it’s a big game just because we are a 2A school. Durango, they don’t have to play us, they really don’t. But we feel we will give them a competitive match and a good opportunity for a competitive game in our area. We want to be just like our boys program and be considered on the top programs in Southwestern Colorado.”
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
If you go
Who: Ignacio vs. Durango
What: High school girls basketball
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Whalen Gymnasium at Fort Lewis College
Listen live: KRSJ 100.5 FM
Twitter: @jonathanmentzer
