The 4A Pagosa Springs High School Pirate basketball team lost a close matchup to the 5A Durango Demons 50-45 on Tuesday, Jan. 13, to move to 2-7 overall on the season.
“It was tough,” said coach Brandon Forster after the game. “We didn’t play to our best.”
The Pirates got down early in the game and were stuck battling back from the deficit in the second, third and fourth quarters, Forster explained.
The boys were able to tie it up in the fourth quarter, but the Demons made their foul shots after a couple of Pirate fouls and were able to close the game out with a win.
“We kind of let their pressure get to us. We need to work on being more composed when that happens,” said Forster when talking about how the Pirates got down early.
The Pirates had three players in double figures: Creede Dozier led the team with 14 points, Duke Ketchum scored 12 and Ty Richey had 10. Bode Hubbard and Jeremiah Jones each had four, and Kasen Limebrook rounded out the scoring with one point.
The Pirates hauled down 21 rebounds as a team. Jones and Dozier each had five, Ketchum had four, Richey had three, Jerry Dean had two, and Hubbard and Jayton Ross each finished with one.
As a team, the Pirates assisted on six of their 19 made field goals, shot 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from the free-throw line, 13 percent from the 3-point line and had 21 turnovers.
The Pirates are still searching for the first win of the new year, but Forster emphasized that this team has no quit and they will continue to fight.
The Pirates just have to control themselves and play composed, he added.
The Pirates will have games on back-to-back days this week.
The team will host 3A Monte Vista, who is 5-2 on the season, on Friday, Jan. 16, beginning at 7 p.m. They will then travel to Ignacio to take on the 3A Ignacio Bobcats, who are 6-3, on Saturday, Jan. 17. Saturday’s tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
“Monte Vista has been playing well,” said Forster. “Ignacio played really well early in the season in the Aztec tournament, so, you know, we’ve got our work cut out for us, but [we’re] putting our nose to the grindstone.”
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