Gaels try to put nail in Trailblazers’ coffin

James Yodice

Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The state's most intense boys' basketball rivalry renews tonight when fourth-ranked Durango entertains No. 5 Bishop Gorman.

The top two teams in the Sunset Division tip off at 7 p.m. The Gaels pulled out a dramatic 66-64 win over the Trailblazers on Jan. 18, and that is the difference in the league standings.

Gorman (20-6 overall) is 9-1 in the division, Durango 8-2. If the Trailblazers (17-8 overall) want the Sunset top seed for the Southern AAAA Zone tournament Feb. 18-22, they'll have to win tonight. It is not reasonable to suggest the Gaels would surrender a two-game advantage this late in the regular season.

"This is our chance to put the nail in their coffin," said Gorman coach Jeff Wagonseller.

The first meeting between the teams was bruising, foul-plagued and full of momentum changes. They appeared headed for overtime until guard Shane Christensen buried a 10-foot jumper late in the game.

The Gaels can expect a large, loud crowd at Durango tonight, but neither Wagonseller nor his team are fazed.

"One reason we put the kids in all these big tournaments is for games like this," he said. "Our kids are looking forward to it."

Gorman-Durango is one of several prominent matchups this weekend. Top-ranked Valley visits Basic tonight at 7 in the Sunrise Division, and the Vikings can lock up no worse than the second zone seed with a win.

The Wolves (7-3 and two games behind co-leaders Las Vegas and Valley) are two games clear of Green Valley and Rancho, but would probably prefer to end any suspense down the stretch.

* TONIGHT'S SCHEDULE: In boys action, Eldorado is at Vo-Tech, Las Vegas is at Rancho (KRLV 1340 AM), Green Valley goes to Chaparral, Bonanza is at Clark, Cheyenne is at Western and Cimarron-Memorial visits Silverado. Each starts at 7 p.m. Cheyenne is third in the Sunset Division at 7-3, Western fourth at 6-5. In girls games, Gorman is at Durango (5:15 p.m.) Vo-Tech at Eldorado, Rancho at Las Vegas, Chaparral at Green Valley, Basic at Valley, Clark at Bonanza and Silverado at Cimarron-Memorial (all at 7). Western is at Cheyenne at 7:30.

* SATURDAY'S GAMES: In boys matchups (all at 7 p.m.), Eldorado is at Las Vegas, Chaparral at Basic, Green Valley at Valley, Vo-Tech at Rancho, Durango at Cimarron-Memorial, Gorman at Silverado and Cheyenne at Bonanza.

In girls contests (all at 7 p.m.), Las Vegas is at Eldorado, Basic at Chaparral, Valley at Green Valley, Rancho at Vo-Tech, Clark at Western, Cimarron-Memorial at Durango, Silverado at Gorman and Bonanza at Cheyenne.