Half of Durango’s dynamic backcourt spent most of the game on the bench. The rest of the Demons couldn’t keep up with Grand Junction on Friday in Durango without her.
Senior Katie Wiegert picked up two early fouls and barely played, and the Tigers beat DHS 55-39 to open Southwestern League play for the Demons.
DHS couldn’t score much after the first quarter or stop Grand Junction’s myriad of offensive options. The Demons gave up a season-high in points, and two Tigers scored in double figures.
Melissa Atchley led Grand Junction (12-4, 2-0 SWL) with 19 points, and Tori Catlett had 12 points and five rebounds.
“Their experience won out,” DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said.
Grand Junction point guard Sydni Brandon, a Fort Lewis College commit, also provided constant pressure on the defensive end and orchestrated the Tigers’ offense. She finished with seven steals and five assists. Grand Junction forced 22 total Durango turnovers.
“We have to be smarter with the ball, take care of it and not rush and force things,” said DHS senior Emily Fogel, daughter of Dennis and Janet Fogel. “When you have a girl like (Brandon) always coming out of nowhere, it’s important to take care of it and focus.”
Most of Durango’s ball-handling fell to sophomore point guard Katrina Chandler with Wiegert on the bench. She led the Demons with 11 points, grabbed three rebounds and dished out three assists.
It was the play of the bench players, though, that grabbed Fitzpatrick’s attention. They scored seven of Durango’s 19 points in the second half, and Shilo Gillen led the non-starters with six points.
“My whole bench played huge,” FItzpatrick said. “Every single person gave positive production.”
Momentum shifted heavily into the Tigers’ favor near the end of the first half, though. Chandler received a five-second call dribbling the ball at the end of the first half after Fitzpatrick told her to take the last shot. Atchley took it for the Tigers instead, draining a 3 from halfway between halfcourt and the 3-point line. That gave Grand Junction a 31-20 advantage at the break.
DHS played nearly the entire first half without Wiegert. She picked up her second foul early in the first quarter and sat down. Wiegert returned to the court midway through the second quarter and picked up her third foul on an illegal screen with 3 minutes, 27 seconds left until halftime.
“It’s the second time in three games at home she’s got in foul trouble,” Fitzpatrick said. “That hurts us.”
Gillen kept the Demons within striking distance early in Wiegert’s absence with a jump shot and layup after an offensive rebound.
Durango’s offensive futility hurt them as the second quarter progressed. Grand Junction outscored them 15-6 heading into halftime. DHS only made two field goals and a free throw in the second quarter. The Tigers outscored the Demons 39-25 over the last three quarters.
“We lost the game, that’s disappointing, but really that’s the only thing that’s disappointing,” Fitzpatrick said.
DHS (11-2, 0-1 SWL) has a quick turnaround for its next game. The Demons play Grand Junction Central at noon Saturday at DHS.
“I’m excited to play. I think we’re going to bring it,” Fogel said. “This loss is going to help us power through (Saturday).”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
