For as long as most local basketball fans can remember, the rivalry between the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys basketball team and the Durango boys basketball team has been intense.
Thus, on the evening of Feb. 10, it was no surprise when fans clad in red and white stood across the court from fans dressed in orange and black and screamed as if there were no tomorrow.
After forty-eight intense minutes however, the Panthers faithful were the only ones left cheering as M-CHS upset Durango 58-51 to pick up its first Southwest League win of the season.
“This game was literally all I’ve been thinking about,” said Panthers senior forward Walter Parker. “This is the game that everyone goes to, and this is the game that everyone cares about. We definitely used the crowd to our advantage, and they helped us out so much.”
Although several factors contributed to the Panthers win, none was bigger than the role played by M-CHS’ stifling man-to-man defense, which held Durango to four points in the first quarter and 18 points in the first half.
Time and time again, Jonathan Walck, Hayden Plewe, and Taylor Wilson forced Durango into difficult outside shots and time and time again, the Demons were unable to connect.
“We’ve been working real hard on changing our man-to-man defense so we’re not lazy,” said M-CHS head coach Michael Hall. “We switched into a zone to catch a break, and then we went right back into a man.”
M-CHS senior Hayden Plewe led M-CHS in scoring with 13 points, and senior Taylor Wilson contributed 12. Seniors Walter Parker and Jonathan Walck each scored 9 points. Senior Konnar McGee scored eight.
I’m so excited for our seniors because they’ve been fighting hard and had some real close games down the stretch,” said Hall. “It was the first time in their careers that they had beaten Durango, and I’m happy for them.”
M-CHS led 10-4 at the end of the first quarter, and the game was tied 18-18 entering the half. Thanks to seven third-quarter points by Plewe and five by Wilson, the Panthers entered the fourth quarter leading 41-36.
“The difference was that we just calmed down and started playing together,” said Walck of his team’s play after halftime. “We were meshing well together, we were patient with the ball, and we were able to get buckets.”
With his team leading 54-51 with 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Parker stepped to the line and converted two consecutive free throws to put the Panthers ahead 56-51.
After Durango was unable to convert two desperation shot attempts, and the Panthers knocked down two free throws, the M-CHS student body rushed the court and celebrated.
“This is the last year of the (old) high school, and this was the last time we were going to play Durango at home,” said Parker. “We had to make a statement, and it was just insane.”
With the win, M-CHS improved to 6-12 on the season. The Panthers are now 1-7 in the Southwest League. Durango fell to 8-11 overall and 3-5 in the Southwest League with the loss.
Next up for the Panthers will be home games against Montrose on Feb. 13 and against Fruita Monument on Feb. 14.
“Coach (Hall) said that for the rest of the season, we are taking things one game at a time,” said McGee. “Every game is equally important, but with Durango being our rivals and everything, this win was special.”
