Thursday, Mar 2, 2023 6:16 PMUpdated Saturday, Mar. 4, 2023 11:32 AM
DHS advances to Class 5A semifinals with 49-25 victory over Cañon City
The Durango High School girls’ basketball team celebrates after beating Cañon City High School in the Class 5A state quarterfinals game Thursday at the Denver Coliseum. (Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Herald)
Tough defense is the hallmark of the Durango High School girls’ basketball team this season.
On Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum, DHS held the Cañon City Tigers to a season-low 25 points by forcing turnover after turnover.
Several Demons also got hot on offense to help them score a 49-25 win.
DHS, the tournament’s No. 3 seed, will now face No. 2 Roosevelt in the 5A semifinals at 7:15 p.m. Thursday at the Coliseum.
“It’s just been a magical season,” said head coach Tim Fitzaptrick. “It’s an amazing group of kids, 1-12. I’m just really proud of them.”
Roosevelt trailed No. 7 Air Academy 22-10 after one quarter, but rallied for a 51-47 win in its quarterfinal.
No. 8 Glenwood Springs, meanwhile, knocked off No. 1 George Washington 48-41 and will play the No. 4 Windsor in the other semifinal. Windsor took down No. 5 Mead 44-41 in its quarterfinal Thursday.
“Having two teams from the Western Slope in the Final Four is saying something,” Fitzpatrick said. “We compete against each other all year, but this time of year we root for each other.”
Durango and Cañon City traded the lead multiple times in the opening quarter. Cañon City scored first, but a Carter Neiman bucket tied the game and Mason Rowland drained a 3-pointer to give DHS a 5-2 lead. The Tigers responded with a three and a two to take the lead back, but two Rowland free throws tied the game at 7-7. Mariah Maestas then spotted up and drained a 3-pointer to help the Demons take a 10-7 lead into the second quarter.
“I think both teams were a little tight. It’s a big stage,” Fitzpatrick said. “We just continued to play hard and play good defense. We got some shots to fall and we rebounded the ball well.”
Mason Rowland of Durango High School gets fouled by Alexi Till of Cañon City High School as she drives to the basket on Thursday in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Class 5A quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. (Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Herald)
DHS started to pull away in the second and led by as many as 11 points. Rowland started the scoring with a trey, but Cañon City responded with a three of its own. After Halle Peterson rebound, Rowland scored on a put back. Tiger Zoe Kies answered by scoring in the post and had half of her team’s first 12 points, but soon ran into foul trouble.
Leading 15-12, DHS went on an 8-0 run. Peterson scored two and a field goal. After Neiman forced a turnover, Rowland broke free on a fast break, was fouled scoring a layup and then added a free throw. Neiman forced a jump ball, then Riley Campbell assisted Peterson on an inbound pass to put DHS up 23-12. Cañon City knocked down a late 3-pointer, but DHS took a 23-15 lead into halftime.
The Demons’ defense continued to stifle Cañon City after the break, limiting the Tigers to just six points in the third quarter and four in the fourth.
“Our defense, it has been really good all year,” Fitzpatrick said.
Durango’s offense also kept rolling. Rowland turned a rebound into a fast break, was fouled scoring and knocked down a free throw. Rowland finished a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line and scored a game-high 23 points. “She doesn’t take a play off,” Fitzpatrick said.
Peterson sank a pair of free throws and hit a 3-pointer in the third. She finished with 10 points for DHS.
Maestas assisted Campbell in the post to put DHS ahead 34-19. Rowland then drew a charge, scored at the other end and DHS took a 36-21 lead into the fourth.
To keep Cañon City from making a comeback, DHS didn’t let them score for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.
Campbell, meanwhile, hit a 3-pointer in the fourth and finished with five points for DHS. Rowland scored six more points, including four from the free-throw line. Tyler Trujillo then scored the last four points of the game for DHS.
DHS is now 23-2 overall. Fitzpatrick also credited his assistant coaches Viki Thyfault and Danika Roberts. “A lot of people have had a hand in this,” he said.
Cañon City finishes its season 19-7 overall. The Tigers also won the 5A/4A Colorado Springs Metro South League while DHS was the 6A/5A Southwestern League champion.
Roosevelt will enter Thursday’s semifinal with the Demons 24-2 overall. If DHS wins, it will play for the Class 5A state title at 5:45 p.m. Saturday.
“The girls program has never been this far,” Fitzpatrick said. “We are capable. Let’s be us. That’s it.”
Mason Rowland of Durango High School drives to the basket while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. (Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Herald)
Tyler Trujillo, left, and Mason Rowland of Durango High School fight Aly Richardson of Cañon City High School for the ball on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. (Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Herald)
Durango High School players celebrate after beating Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 5A quarterfinals game at the Denver Coliseum. (Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Herald)
Durango High School players celebrate after beating Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Durango High School players celebrate after beating Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 5A quarterfinals game at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Durango High School players celebrate after beating Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 5A quarterfinals game at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Durango High School players celebrate after beating Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 5A quarterfinals game at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Mason Rowland of Durango High School drives to the basket while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 5A quarterfinals game at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Carter Neiman of Durango High School cheers after a Cañon City High School foul on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Ellie White of Durango High School high fives head coach Tim Fitzpatrick after beating Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Durango High School players post for a photo after beating Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Durango High School head coach Tim Fitzpatrick gets excited while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Ellie White of Durango High School fights for a rebound while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Riley Campbell of Durango High School takes a shot while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Durango High School players celebrate after teammate knocked down a 3-pointer while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Halle Peterson of Durango High School gets fouled while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Durango High School players rush the court after a timeout was called while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Riley Campbell of Durango High School fights for a rebound with Lorelai Murphy, left, and Zoe Kies of Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Mason Rowland of Durango High School drives to the basket while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Mason Rowland of Durango High School drives to the basket while playing Canon City High School on Thursday in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 5A quarterfinals game at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Tyler Trujillo of Durango High School takes a shot while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Mason Rowland of Durango High School, right, rushes the court with her teammates after beating Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Riley Campbell of Durango High School makes a 3-pointer while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 5A quarterfinals game at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Mason Rowland of Durango High School drives to the basket while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Halle Peterson of Durango High School takes a shot while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Halle Peterson of Durango High School looks to the basket while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Tyler Trujillo of Durango High School looks to pass while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Mason Rowland of Durango High School takes the ball down the court while playing Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Mason Rowland of Durango High School takes a shot past Emily Burkdoll of Cañon City High School on Thursday in the Class 5A quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Tyler Trujillo, left, and Mason Rowland, right, of Durango High School fight Aly Richardson of Cañon City High School for the ball on Thursday in the Class 5A quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
Michael Ciaglo
Mason Rowland of Durango High School get fouled by Alexi Till of Cañon City High School as she drives to the basket on Thursday in the Class 5A quarterfinals at the Denver Coliseum. Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Special to the Durango Herald
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