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Baken starts, Atencio finishes

Lucas Baken’s early 3-point shooting and Nate Atencio’s late free-throw shooting helped the Demons preserve a big win Thursday.

The Durango High School boys basketball team played Vista Ridge in the first round of the Pueblo East tournament in Pueblo. Baken hit four 3s in the first four minutes to give DHS (2-3) an early 16-9 lead, but the Wolves bit back to tie the game at 23 going into halftime.

Leading 41-39 with less than a minute to play, the Demons surrendered a 3 that gave the Wolves their first lead. But, with 20 seconds to play, Atencio was fouled at halfcourt, and he hit two free throws to put DHS back on top. A turnover with 5 seconds to play doomed Vista Ridge, and DHS hit another free throw to give DHS a 44-41 win.

“We were hot coming out of the gate with Baken hitting those four 3s,” DHS head coach Alan Batiste said. “Then we knocked down free throws to get the win. Thank goodness.”

It was a big win for the Demons, who have struggled scoring early this year.

Baken led the team with 17 points.

“It was a total team effort on the scoring end. Caleb Kennedy also had eight rebounds, and that was key for us,” Batiste said. “And Joe Logan was an energizer for us the whole game.”

DHS will play in the second round of the tournament at 7 p.m. Friday against host Pueblo East (4-5). The Eagles beat Mitchell 67-66 at the buzzer Thursday.

heraldsports@durangoherald.com



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