The Demons (5-6), losers of their last two, will travel to non-league Norwood today, Tuesday, Jan. 29, and then down U.S. Hwy. 550 to face county- and Mountain League-rival Ouray on Friday (6:30 p.m.). The Demons will be looking to avenge an early-season loss to Norwood from Nov. 30 when the Mavericks won 62-27 in the opening game of the Ridgway Tournament. They also beat Ridgway 49-12 and 76-20 last season.
The Mavericks had a six-game winning streak to open the season snapped with a 47-39 San Juan Basin League loss to Dove Creek on Jan. 19. Sam Oliver led the Mavericks with 10 points.
Norwood (7-2) returned to its winning ways over the weekend, downing league-foe Nucla 69-20 on Friday, but stumbled on Saturday in Mancos, falling to the Bluejays 45-41.
“Norwood is a very tough place to play,” Ridgway coach Charles Jones said.
As for Ridgway, the Demons fell 52-28 to defending league-foe Crested Butte on Friday, falling to 1-1 in league play. Senior Madison Norwood led the Demons with 11 points.
“We held the lead at 6-5 at the end of the first quarter,” Jones said. “In the second quarter, we got into foul trouble and turned the ball over, and we were down 21-8 at half. To start the third quarter we came out and cut the lead to seven but could not get any closer.”
Ridgway will be looking to rebound in league action on Friday at Ouray for the Trojans’ homecoming contest.
Ouray (5-6, 2-0) will be looking to stay near the top of the standings while also attempting to rebound from a 45-38 loss at non-league Montrose (j.v.) on Saturday. The Indians dominated most of the game despite Ouray pulling to within 36-33 with four minutes left in the contest. The Trojans weren’t able to get any closer.
“We couldn’t get over the hump,” coach Claudia Rebne said. “Offensively, we just struggled. We did too much standing around and not enough movement. Like we were tentative – afraid to take a shot; that hurt us.”
Junior guard LiErin Wilson (15 points) and junior forward Riley Arrington (career-high 10) combined to score 25 points to lead the Trojans. Arrington – who also hit a career-high three three-pointers – Wilson and junior point guard Michal Fagrelius fouled out.
“We had foul trouble with Michal, Riley and LiErin,” Rebne said. “Riley played a good game and had some key shots. I thought she did well rebounding and was aggressive. I thought she had a good game.”
As for Friday’s opponent, Rebne is aware Ridgway is a team that was 1-19 a year ago, to a team that already has five wins.
“I expected that,” she said. “I knew [coach Charles] Jones would elevate that team. It’s not going to be easy.
“We hope to go in strong this weekend and shoot for two wins,” she added. “It’s nice having home-court advantage.”
As for Crested Butte (9-2, 3-0), Ouray will try to avenge a 56-47 loss from the season-opener on Nov. 30 in the Trojans’ Peak Performance Invitational. The Titans routed Edwards Vail Christian 61-19 on Saturday. Their last loss was to Norwood, 50-44, on Jan. 12.
Meanwhile, Ridgway will have a week between games after facing Ouray as they’ll play at league-foe DeBeque on Friday, Feb. 8. It will be the third time the Demons will face the Dragons. These squads split the first two meetings, including a 48-38 Ridgway win in league play on Jan. 12.
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