A little more than 24 hours after learning whether or not they would even be in the state tournament, the Durango Demons had an incredibly tough task on their plate.
The Durango High School boys lacrosse team received the 15th-seed in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A Boys Lacrosse Championships. That meant a trip to Denver to take on No. 2 Valor Christian, a private school with championship pedigree.
The Valor Christian Eagles (13-4) jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead behind two goals from Cole Baker, who tormented the Durango Demons (8-8) for much of the game en route to a 17-3 victory.
“That was the best team we played all year, and they shot lights out,” DHS head coach John Robinette said. “They were moving the ball quickly, finding open cutters. I didn’t think we played that bad.”
DHS had a chance to steal some momentum going to the second quarter, but a late goal by Cullen Robinette was waived off as it came after the buzzer had sounded.
That was as close as Durango came in the first half, as it went into halftime trailing 8-0.
The Eagles had no problem pulling further away in the second half, though the Demons did receive three goals from Kyle Robinette, who finished with 56 goals for the season. That mark put him second in the state in Class 4A, and he also finished second in the state in ground balls.
DHS was outshot 33-15 on Tuesday night. Kyle Robinette’s three goals came on seven shots. He also won 11-of-15 faceoffs. Oaken Oles and Tommy Rodgers each had one assist for the Demons.
“Kyle has a monster game for us like he’s done all year,” coach Robinette said of his son. “We put him in the midfield so he could play defense, too.”
Andrew Brown made seven saves in goal for Durango, and Dylan Gaver made four saves.
DHS has now made it to the state tournament three consecutive years with lopsided losses all three years. But the young Demons program is putting itself on the map, and coach Robinette hopes a big class of 18 seniors in 2017 will help the team get over the hump.
“We are only losing two senior starters from this year’s team,” he said. “Preparation for next year begins now. They need to put work in the offseason, get stick skills and hit the weight room and build chemistry. I’ll meet with our soon-to-be seniors in the next few days and map out the goals for next year and make a plan to achieve them. Hopefully we can do well enough in the regular season next year, pull a few upsets and get a higher seed and make one of these teams travel to play us for once.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
