Eight players ejected as Desert Oasis rolls Durango
Desert Oasis’ Jacob Heese (15) looks for a shot as Durango’s Drake Booker (2) tries to grab it away while Manny Mitchell (5) and Durango’s Leandre McIntyre (12) watch at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Durango’s Vernell Watts (22) reaches for a layup while Desert Oasis’ Kamari Burnside (0) attempts to block him at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Durango’s Leandre McIntyre (12) shoots while Desert Oasis’ Felix Reeves (1) attempts to block him at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Durango’s Nicquel Blake (23) dribbles past Desert Oasis defender Jacob Heese (15) at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Desert Oasis’ Nate Van attempts a layup against Durango’s defense at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Durango’s Anthony Hunter (21) dribbles around Desert Oasis’ Nate Van (14) at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Durango’s Vernell Watts (22) attempts a layup while Anthony Swift (13) watches and Desert Oasis defenders Nate Van (14) and Cade Savell (3) attempt to block him at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Durango’s Anthony Hunter (21) dribbles around Desert Oasis’ Manny Mitchell (5) at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Durango’s Anthony Swift (13) attempts a layup against Desert Oasis defender Jacob Heese (15) at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Durango’s Vernell Watts (22) left, reaches for the ball as Desert Oasis players Jacob Heese (15) center, and Manny Mitchell (5) right, do the same at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Durango’s Vernell Watts (22) looks for a shot against the defense of Desert Oasis’ Cade Savell (3) left, Felix Reeves, 1, and Jacob Heese (15) right, at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Durango’s Vernell Watts (22) dunks while Desert Oasis’ Cade Savell (3) and Manny Mitchell, 5, watch at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Desert Oasis’ Jacob Heese (15) attempts a layup while Durango’s Anthony Hunter (21) and Drake Booker, (2) watch at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Desert Oasis’ Manny Mitchell (5) reaches for the ball along with Durango’s Nicquel Blake (23) and Leandre McIntyre (12) at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Desert Oasis’ Jacob Heese (15) looks for a shot as Durango’s Drake Booker (2) tries to grab it away while Manny Mitchell (5) and Durango’s Leandre McIntyre (12) watch at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
A fight breaks out between Desert Oasis and Durango at Durango High School on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Desert Oasis won 98-80. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Punches were thrown in the fourth quarter of Desert Oasis’ 98-80 basketball victory at Durango on Thursday night, and eight players — including Diamondbacks starters Kamari Burnside, Nate Van and Felix Reeves — were ejected.
Trailblazers guards Vernell Watts and Drake Booker also were ejected, along with a pair of reserves who left the bench.
Reeves took a charge early in the fourth quarter and exchanged some words with Booker before Burnside intervened, triggering the fight. Play was halted for about five minutes as officials sorted out the situation.
An ejection is one-game suspension, per NIAA rules, and Desert Oasis coach Joseph Bedowitz said he’ll review the game tape before determining if additional punishment is warranted.
Bedowitz declined comment on the altercation or any penalties that might loom for his players. Durango coach DeShawn Henry could not be reached for comment
Desert Oasis standout Jacob Heese overcame a slow start to finish with 24 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Manny Mitchell also scored 24 points, and Burnside added 23 points before his departure.
The Trailblazers threw a few different defenders at Heese, and he struggled to find his offense in the first half. But Burnside and Mitchell picked up the slack, Heese rebounded and facilitated, and Desert Oasis (17-7, 5-3 Southwest League) took a 45-42 halftime lead.
The Diamondbacks revved up their defensive intensity at the beginning of the third quarter, and Heese said he sensed some quit from Durango (6-8, 3-4) as their lead mushroomed to double digits.
Contact reporter Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on Twitter.
