This might be a turning point week for Dolores boys basketball.
The Bears compiled one of their best performances in the past couple of seasons on both ends of the floor, as the offense clicked and the defense smothered, en route to a 74-37 domination of De Beque. The victory comes on the heels of a thrilling 55-51 victory over Ridgway, sending Dolores into the holiday break with a surge of momentum.
After trailing 5-0, Dolores (3-2) punched back with a 9-0 run, taking a lead they would never relinquish. Sophomore Cliff Bice spearheaded the run for the Bears, scoring five points as part of the first-quarter run.
Sophomore Mark Palate added a pair of threes to help the home team build a 15-11 lead after the opening eight minutes.
That’s when the Bears really got rolling.
Dolores put up 22 points in the second quarter, turning a tight contest into a 15-point margin at halftime, 37-22. Senior Josh Ricca scored seven in the frame, while classmate Tyler Nowlin scored five of his 13 points in the second. Nowlin also began to assert his dominance in the paint defensively, proving several emphatic blocks on Dragon field goal attempts.
From there, momentum sat squarely in the black-and-red camp, as the Bears steadily pulled away in the third quarter. The defense clamped down on De Beque, holding their high-powered offense to six points in the third, while Tru Seekins added his third of four 3-pointers in the contest.
The Bears would finish with a flourish, scoring 23 in the final period to put an impressive stamp on their second win in four days. Three Bears, Bice (17), Seekins (13), and Nowlin (13), would finish in double figures, while three others – Ricca, Palate and sophomore Jonathan Purkat – would add nine points apiece.
Trent Lewis led the Dragons (1-2) in scoring with 10 points.
The Bears return to action on Jan. 7, when they take a trip to Monticello for a 7 p.m. contest.
The Dolores girls continue to develop their identity this year, as head coach Tiffany Hill works with a young roster learning the ropes. The Bears (1-5) dropped their encounter with De Beque (1-2) by a 42-17 margin.
The game was tied at seven at the midway point of the first quarter, but the visitors scored the next eight points, and steadily ballooned their lead to 22-10 at halftime. De Beque outscored the Bears 12-4 in the third quarter to put the game away.
Senior Chandler Smith and sophomore Mikayla Puett led the team in scoring with five points apiece. Senior Denee Scott added four.
De Beque was led by Rachel Graham, who poured in 22 points on the afternoon.
Dolores will continue their lengthy homestand in 2022, when they host Dove Creek on Tuesday, Jan. 11, for a 4:30 p.m. contest.
