CORTEZ – For all the years that the Panthers spent punching above their weight among the Western Slope’s biggest schools in the Southwestern League, the 2025-26 season has taken on the feel of a revenge tour.
After barnstorming through their former conference with a 4-0 record this winter, M-CHS head coach Mike Hall might not be receiving any invitations from the SWL to rejoin them anytime soon.
On Friday night in front of a hopping Jungle crowd, the Panthers collected their most prized win in completing the sweep, bolting past Durango, 67-45. The victory joins wins over Montrose (Jan. 20), Grand Junction (Dec. 20), and GJ Central (Dec. 18), leading the orange-and-black to their first winning record against Southwestern League opposition since 2008-09.
More importantly for Hall’s crew, the victory adds another quality win over a 5A foe, as 4A No. 3 M-CHS continues to sit in the catbird seat for a home regional site in early March. With the nonconference games in the books, now the Panthers (13-0, 2-0 4A/3A IML) can refocus their energy on taking down the program’s first league title in their ten-year span in the Intermountain League – a journey which resumes on Saturday in Pagosa Springs.
Durango (4-9, 0-2 6A/5A SWL) encountered the same turbulent waters that every other opponent has faced from the Panthers this season – a brutally efficient defense that averages 16 steals per contest. The Panthers ‘D’ had only allowed more than 50 points in one contest this season, so Demons acting head coach Orlando Griego, in for absent DHS leader Alan Batiste, knew his team would have to protect their possessions, along with having an exceptional shooting night to keep pace with the hosts.
Durango scored six of the first eight points in the contest with junior Boaz Zastrocky flashing solid moves around the lane to give the visitors early life.
However, the Panthers remained nonplussed, turning to an offensive formula that included a heavy dose of their leading scorer. Junior Trey Hall continued on his run to potentially threaten the M-CHS single-season held by early-2000s standout Ryan Mortensen, as he surpassed 800 career points while pouring in 23 markers – including a series of electrifying dunks – to the delight of the partisan crowd as M-CHS. The home team turned a 6-2 deficit into a 24-12 lead through the opening quarter and never looked back.
“Durango came out hot, so we had to make a few adjustments – then we were off and running,” said the Panthers head coach.
M-CHS senior Trace Hartsoe got the turnaround started with eight of his 12 points coming in the first quarter run, and while the Demons made a series of triples in the second and third quarters, junior Kingston Kerlin and Zastrocky’s team-high 12 points weren’t enough to make a serious dent into the Panthers’ 42-25 halftime lead.
“Trace is capable of getting going at any time,” lauded Hall of his senior’s scoring ability, “he knows how to lead and play in the big moments of big games.”
Junior Asher Bennetts, who’s now piled up 28 points in his last three games, continued to be a force around the rim as M-CHS controlled the glass, while sophomore Justin Bane picked up the rebounding slack in the brief moments with Bennetts on the bench.
Entering the contest, perhaps the biggest challenge for Durango was trying to figure out what to take away from M-CHS. In the Panthers’ win over Montrose on Tuesday night, all nine players who stepped on the floor found the scoring column, with quick ball movement outmaneuvering the Red Hawks attempts to trap. M-CHS followed that effort with eight players tallying in the win over the Demons, using plenty of cutting action to get good looks around the rim.
Sophomore Royce Watts contributed seven points for the balanced attack as the top scorer off the bench for Hall’s squad, but more importantly, the Watts and the Panthers defense never let up, even when Hall dipped into his reserves.
“When our guys come in off the bench, the defense doesn’t stop – and it allows up to keep the pressure on,” said Hall, “I’d say that the bench players are the key piece in our defensive success.”
Getting to complete a sweep of the SWL this year has a special place in Hall’s heart, having played and started his coaching career facing off against the big Western Slope schools. “It’s good competition for us, seeing those big kids from these schools – because we know in the state tournament, that’s what we’re going to see,” added Hall.
The fans wearing orange-and-black leaving The Jungle on Thursday night were all smiles, and according to Hall, their energy spurred another Panthers victory.
“The atmosphere was electric tonight, that’s what we want to see back in this gym,” said Hall, “and we’re wanting to have these crowds here the rest of the way and into the playoffs.”
The Panthers and Demons both return to league play on Saturday, with M-CHS making the trip to Pagosa Springs for a bout with the Pirates while Durango gets set to host Montrose for another stern SWL test.
