Western has big Day against Durango

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

A year ago, Durango's boys basketball team put on an offensive clinic in its Sunset Region semifinal game against Western, ending the Warriors' season with a flurry of 3-pointers, dunks and layups.

That was hardly the case Wednesday night, as the No. 5 Trailblazers got out of the blocks slowly, digging themselves a hole they could never quite get out of in a 76-74 loss at No. 2 Western.

The Warriors (15-2) took command of their Southwest Division opener with a dominant first quarter, then held off a late Durango charge to capture their seventh consecutive victory.

"We were fortunate to win the ballgame," Western coach Tony Hopkins said. "We had the game where we wanted it, but we got complacent and as a result, Durango made a run to get back into it."

After falling behind 18-8 in the first quarter, the Blazers (15-6) were nearly buried by halftime, going down 37-22 with under two minutes remaining. But just when all seemed lost for the visitors, they closed out the half with two unanswered baskets, then reeled off a 16-9 run after intermission to make it 46-42.

Durango big man Martrel Johnson, held to just one point in the first half, exploded for 15 second-half points to keep his squad close. But the Trailblazers never evened things up or went ahead, thanks in large part to Western center Tim Day.

With fellow starters Brandon Weaver and Matt Robinson in foul trouble, Day took matters into his own hands, scoring a season-high 28 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to help Western maintain its advantage.

"They played us man-to-man the whole ballgame, and as a result Tim was our go-to weapon," Hopkins said. "We just kept going to the well because it was working."

Offered Day, "I always play good against Durango, and we were thinking about this game all week, how we had to get revenge (for last year)."

Durango made a late run to close within two points with 1:30 remaining. But two key offensive rebounds by Day and Leonta Matthews led to put-back baskets and sealed the victory by Western.

"We've talked about holding serve at home coming into the conference season," Hopkins said. "The way this division will end up, if you can win on your home floor and steal a couple on the road, you'll put yourself in a good position."

Patrick Stinnett and Robinson both scored 12 points and Wendell West added 11 to join Day in double figures for Western, while Durango's Tywain McTyer matched Johnson with 16 points in the loss. Frank Brown (13 points), Edmond Parotte (11) and Jay Sherrod (10) also got into double digits for the Blazers.