Montrose boys basketball gets past Durango in low-scoring affair

MONTROSE – The fourth-seeded Montrose boys basketball team faced 29^th-seeded league foe Durango at home in the second round of the 4A state playoffs on Saturday and emerged victorious, 39-20, in a low-scoring affair that followed a first-round bye.

“Our defense today was what helped us win,” Montrose senior Cody Proctor said. “We didn’t score a lot in the first three quarters, but only allowed ten in both halves. If we keep that up, we’re gonna be tough to beat.”

Montrose led 6-2 after the first quarter and did not have more than a four-point lead in the second. Montrose had a 12-10 lead at halftime and were up just 17-12 to start the fourth quarter.

“Tuff loss when you are so close going into the fourth quarter to the state runner-up,” Durango coach Alan Batiste said. “We went into the game with an offensive game plan. Our defense strategy was to take away their primary ball handler. We have done this all three times we played them. Can’t complain being down five points at the end of three quarters 17-12. We just need to get to the line as well and make a play.

“The score does not dictate the game at all. They got out and ran for a couple of possessions to get their lead up to ten. Need some shots to fall for us when you get down ten. Proud of our team and executing our game plan. Congrats to Montrose and good luck moving forward.”

Montrose head coach Ryan Voehringer was also proud of his team’s effort.

“Great defensive effort tonight,” Voehringer said.”I thought my guys played outstanding on the defensive end for 32 minutes. Any time you can hold a playoff team that is big and athletic to 20 points, you have to be happy. We did a great job on their two leading scorers (Anthony Flint and Walter Stauffer), holding them to seven points combined. Coach Batiste and Durango had a great game plan coming in. Slow the game down and limit our possessions. It worked extremely well for three quarters until the fourth when we finally found some flow and scored 22 points.

“It’s always very hard to beat a team three times, especially a league school that knows us so well. Luke Hutto led us with 11 points. Followed by Trey Reese and Ashden Oberg with eight points apiece. Fletcher Cheezum had seven and two big threes in the second half.”

Oberg added, “I think we played great defense and played together as a team,” Ashden Oberg said.”We hit some good perimeter shots. We really came together and played solid defense.”

Flint had five points. Luke Wesley had four and Tyler Harms had three points for Durango. Montrose will host Discovery Canyon on Wednesday in the Sweet 16.