(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
PUEBLO — Durango had a comfortable 20-7 lead after the first quarter. The problem is, it was too comfortable a lead.
Mountain View battled back and the end of the game produced a gritty battle that had the Demons coming away with a 65-60 to advance to the Class 4A Sweet 16.
“Oh my goodness, we survived that one,” Demons coach Alan Batiste said. “We got undisciplined and we’re a disciplined team. But we got undisciplined and we started freelancing.”
The Demons (17-7 overall) were able to spread the ball around the perimeter early, which was key to their jumping out to an early lead.
Seth Gilleland knocked down two 3-pointers in the first while Terrance Trujillo and Lucas Baken added one apiece. The Demons shot six total 3-pointers in the first quarter and made those four.
“We came out a little tentative in the first quarter,” Mountain Lions coach Micheal Jobman said. “They shot the ball extremely well. Coming in, I didn’t think they’d shoot the ball that and they did.”
But the Mountain Lions put a quick stop to that trend in the second quarter. Durango only made two total field goals while Mountain View found its stroke, matching the 20 points that the Demons had put up in the first quarter.
“We were a little too comfortable as it showed,” Demons guard Terrance Trujillo said. “After that, our coaches told us what to do and we were calm.”
Trujillo finished the game with 12 points but it was the seven that came from the free throw line in the fourth quarter were the most important points the Demons tallied on the night.
The Mountain Lions had certainly done their scouting as Trujillo had only hit 1-6 from the charity stripe during the Demons’ league tournament last weekend.
But stepping to the line Friday, he knew he was much better suited to help his team.
“That’s what I worked on all week,” Trujillo said. “I told my teammates that would never happen again.”
The Demons were able to hold off a late rally from Mountain View that included Jose Orrantia banking a couple of 3-pointers to keep the game within two possessions. But ultimately the clock ran out and Durango held on to advance.
(1) Pueblo West 84, (8) Mesa Ridge
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
Pueblo West was able to weather a storm that hit at the start of both halves to beat Mesa Ridge 84-73.
The Cyclones (21-3 overall) will face Durango at 2 p.m. at Pueblo West High School
The Grizzlies (12-12) jumped out to a 14-2 lead thanks to a couple of big 3-pointers from Dylan Mileto. Once the Cyclones settled down, they took a 37-29 lead into halftime before another offensive onslaught from the Grizzlies struck.
Mesa Ridge scored 29 points in the fourth quarter, sending the game into the final eight minutes at a 58-58 stalemate.
But Pueblo West got to the free throw line often and David Simental knocked down all 12 of his attempts and the Cyclones were able to advance to Saturday’s Sweet 16.
“Overall as a team, it probably doesn’t show that we’re great free throw shooters,” Cyclones coach Robert Tyler said. “Usually in the fourth quarter, we put the ball in the hole and that’s huge for us.”