Durango’s Bennett makes up for mistake, Trailblazers escape with win

Durango coach DeShawn Henry said Kris Bennett played his best game ever on Tuesday night in a victory at Western High.

Bennett continued his strong play Thursday night as the Trailblazers (11-6, 6-1 Southwest) handed host Sierra Vista (17-4, 5-1) its first defeat in Southwest League play with a 46-44 win that featured seven lead changes.

The Trailblazers were clinging to the final two-point lead when Bennett, who scored eight points and had five blocked shots, dropped a pass with 36 seconds left in the game. The mistake led to a jump ball that went to the Mountain Lions.

The senior post player made up for the blunder by blocking a shot by Sierra Vista’s Ray Tapusoa with 12 seconds left. A fight for possession ensued and Durango was rewarded the ball with nine seconds left.

“I was definitely relieved to get that block, especially after losing the ball in a clutch spot like that,” said Bennett. “I really redeemed myself after that. I want to step up and try to help my team by being a leader, and defense and rebounding has been my focus. I enjoy doing the dirty work.”

Tapusoa came up with a steal and Sierra Vista called timeout with eight seconds to play.

Tapusoa then drove the right baseline, but his shot was met by both Dario Jokic and Devin Matthews and resulted in a jump ball with the possession arrow in favor of the Trailblazers.

“Ray is definitely a guy I have faith in taking the big shots,” Sierra Vista coach Kent Johnson said. “I am proud of the defense we played in the last two minutes as my guys played their hearts out, but we just didn’t get the bounce we wanted to get.”

Durango then missed three free throws, had a traveling violation called with 1.8 seconds left, and escaped with the win after Sierra Vista’s Amir Garrett missed a 15-foot jumper.

The Lions were without two of their tallest players: senior center Brian Zimmerman, who has missed four games with an injured knee, and forward Dallin Molina, who was out with an illness.

“Without our big men tonight, their size really hurt us,” Johnson said. “You can’t take anything away from Durango tonight, especially without having their scorer.”

Durango’s Marcus Falley, who averages 19 points per game, sat out Thursday’s game. He is expected to return to the lineup when Durango plays at Bishop Gorman on Monday.

Jokic led the Trailblazers with 14 points, including four  3-pointers, the last of which put his team ahead 46-42 with 3:36 left in the game.

Viko Noma’aea led Sierra Vista with 14 points, including three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.