DOVE CREEK – With San Juan Basin League play in full swing, teams can throw out the records as soon as the opening jump ball is tossed.
Rediscovering the grit that has made the Dove Creek Bulldogs a league title contender over the past several seasons, the Bulldogs erased a first-half deficit, then recovered after losing a late fourth-quarter lead by outscoring Dolores 10-4 in overtime to capture a 48-42 home win on Saturday afternoon. The win capped a strong day for the Bulldogs, as the Bulldogs girls stormed past the visiting Bears 34-7 in the final 20 minutes to secure a 43-21 win.
Sometimes it’s just one game that can turn a season around – and the Bulldogs (3-9, 2-1 3A/2A/1A SJBL) are hoping their win can be the spark that ignites another league title push.
Trailing by as many as eight points in the first half, the Bulldogs closed to within 24-20 at the break before a late third-quarter surge pushed them in front 35-30 midway through the fourth quarter.
Bears sophomore Lane Johnson tied the game in the waning seconds of regulation with a lay-in to knot the score at 38, then scored again to open overtime to give the Bears the lead.
However, a driving layup from Bulldogs senior Jonathan Davis retied the contest before classmate Trevan Ivie gave the home team the lead for good with a stick-back bucket with under two minutes left in the extra session. From there, another Davis basket and free throws from Ivie and Nicholas Aragon sealed the win.
Three Bulldogs finished in double figures, led by Ivie’s 16 points, followed by 13 from Aragon and 10 from freshman Kycen Gritz. Davis added seven points, while Koby McClellan’s 12 points paced the visitors.
Head coach Teresa Martin’s group stayed within a game of the league’s top spot with the victory, leapfrogging past the Bears in the process. With five of the league’s seven teams sitting above .500, each win feels magnified – and now Dove Creek has a chance to take first place when the Bulldogs hit the road on Tuesday to face league-unbeaten Nucla.
For the Bears (8-6, 3-2 3A/2A/1A SJBL), the loss may give head coach Nick Traweek’s team extra fire for matchups against Ridgway at home Tuesday and Telluride on the road Friday.
The Bulldogs (9-3, 3-0 3A/2A/1A) hope that the third time’s a charm against Nucla on Tuesday night, as Dove Creek travels to face the Mustangs in a battle of the league’s last two unbeaten teams.
Their win over Dolores (5-8, 2-2 3A/2A/1A) continued the Bulldogs’ strong league form – under head coach Julie Kibel’s nine-year run, Dove Creek has dropped only six SJBL games.
Senior Taylor Hampton led the Bulldogs with 16 points, while classmate Hadley Hatfield added eight.
Dove Creek dropped two contests against Nucla earlier in the season that did not count toward league standings, so the first of their two remaining meetings with the Mustangs will likely help decide the league crown.
The Bears and head coach Mike Nielson face a busy week ahead, starting with a bid to overturn an earlier loss to Ridgway when they face the Demons on Tuesday night at DHS Fieldhouse, followed by trips to Telluride and Ouray on Friday and Saturday.
