Durango zips past Gorman

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999 | 10:47 a.m.

Trailblazers' torrid start sinks Gaels, clinches spot in playoffs

Not content to leave its playoff destiny to chance, Durango's boys basketball team went out and seized it in the first half of Wednesday night's game at Bishop Gorman.

Despite playing in Southern Nevada's most hostile environment, the Trailblazers came out firing on all cylinders, hitting 20 of their first 35 shots to post a stunning 21-point halftime lead.

That turned out to be just enough for the visitors to hang on down the stretch, as Bishop Gorman got within four late in the game before succumbing, 97-82.

The win puts Durango (19-9, 11-4 Sunset Division) back into the playoffs after a one-year absence. It also marks the first time the Trailblazers have swept the Gaels in the regular season.

For Gorman (18-8, 10-5), the loss not only spoiled Senior Night, but may have also cost the hosts a postseason berth.

The Gaels will likely need a win tonight at Cimarron-Memorial to qualify for next week's zone tournament. A Spartan victory, combined with a Clark win over Western, would send Gorman packing.

"If we lost, we were out," Durango point guard Rudy Charles said. "We had to go home early last year, and we didn't want to go home early again this year."

To the astonishment of the Gaels' packed gymnasium, Charles and his teammates put on an offensive clinic from the opening tip, building their lead as much as 23 points before halftime.

With starting point guard Julio Jauregui on the bench in foul trouble, Gorman had no answer for Durango's outside shooters, as Charles (27 points) and forward Jason Burns (26 points) scorched the nets nearly every trip downcourt.

All five Durango starters wound up in double figures, as Chey Christie (16 points), Jamaal Brimmer (16 points) and Martrel Johnson (10 points) all got into the scoring act for the visitors.

The second half was a different story, as 6-8 sophomore center Jason Carter (34 points, 11 rebounds) started to assert himself in the paint and Gorman's 3-point shooters began connecting.

A Carter dunk pulled the hosts within three, 81-78, with 2:15 remaining. But Brimmer swished a long 3-pointer moments later and the Trailblazers made 8-of-8 free throws down the stretch to finish the job.

"I told them at halftime that we were playing a good team in their house and they were going to make a run," Durango coach Al LaRocque said. "Gorman's got too much pride. They weren't just going to roll over."