The significance of the Montezuma-Cortez versus Durango rivalry was evident on Tuesday night.
It was clear – from the jam-packed parking lot, the crowded bleachers and the liveliness in the gymnasium – that it was a contest that meant something.
“I think the rivalry starts in middle school and continues in high school,” said Durango head coach Tim Fitzpatrick. “So I think on both sides, the kids have a little more energy and they want to do well against their rival.”
Unfortunately for the Cortez fans, that energy didn’t translate to success to the court.
The Durango Demons (10-2) punctured the Lady Panthers’ (7-6) zone defense early, finding holes and scoring in the paint to build a 14-5 lead in the opening quarter.
“We did a good job attacking where we needed to attack,” said Fitzpatrick. “We did a good job moving the ball. I don’t know if we shot the ball real well, but we did get good looks.”
M-CHS head coach John McHenry said that the Lady Panthers were focused on stopping Durango junior Katrina Chandler – who entered the contest averaging nearly 17 points per game – and by keying on her, other options opened up for the Demons.
“We knew what she could do,” said McHenry. “We knew that if she gets wound up, she can take it in against you. So it’s kind of pick your poison: You either take it from her or who she dishes off to. Which in this case, I bet their shooters were almost 100 percent in that first quarter.”
Offensively, the Lady Panthers struggled to score. They connected on just three field goals and shot 3-of-12 from the free-throw line to enter the half trailing 26-9.
“The offense was working,” explained McHenry. “We were taking good shots; some nights they don’t drop, some nights they do. For instance, against Bayfield we couldn’t miss. This night, just a little added length of Durango in our face was enough to divert it a little bit.”
The Demons held M-CHS to just four points in the third quarter, and although the Lady Panthers scored 13 in the final frame, Durango wrapped it up with a 49-26 win.
Durango got scoring contributions from nine different players, led by Taylor Edwards’ 12 points and 11 from Chandler. Kiselya Plewe and Tayla Topaha led the Lady Panthers with seven points apiece and Simone Lopez scored five.
With M-CHS now in the Intermountain League and Durango still in the Southwestern League, both Fitzpatrick and McHenry noted that while the rivalry is important, their focus is more broad.
“This used to be a league game, but it’s not anymore, so it’s kind of a nice break,” said Fitzpatrick. “And we’ll just try to get ready continuing in our league season.”
“Short-term memory, this one is done, it’s gone,” said McHenry. “This is a perfect situation to try and do things and get better and sharpen ourselves on a really good team. It’s non-conference, and it’s tough to see now, but the bigger picture is the playoffs and that’s what we’re aiming for.”