DOLORES – A season of revival for Dolores basketball reached its home‑court finale Thursday night as seniors from both programs received a loud send-off from a packed Fieldhouse.
The Bears boys (13‑10, 7‑5 3A/2A/1A SJBL) and girls (10‑13, 6‑6) combined for 23 wins, their highest total since 2012‑13. Playing at home for the final time, Dolores honored five seniors during Senior Night losses to league champion Nucla.
With the regular season complete, the boys secured their first postseason berth since 2018‑19 and their first winning record since 2016‑17.
Second‑year head coach Nick Traweek’s team will learn its playoff placement after the rest of Colorado concludes the CHSAA regular season this weekend. The girls, led by first‑year head coach Mike Nielson, closed their winningest season since 2017‑18 and reached .500 in league play for the first time in seven years.
Seniors Taylor Erautt, Kacey Schmittel and Natalya Castillo ended their DHS careers Thursday. Boys seniors Michael Rantz and Will Nielson now look ahead to their first postseason appearance.
Dolores pushed 1A No. 2 Nucla (23‑0, 12‑0) as close as any opponent this season, holding the Mustangs to 15 first‑half points and taking a three-point lead into halftime. Junior Miles Brown scored six of his eight points before the break, helping the Bears carry momentum into the locker room before Nucla answered with a dominant third quarter.
The Mustangs hit four three‑pointers in the third and outscored Dolores 24‑5 to pull away. Junior Koby McClellan led DHS with 10 points, while Rantz and junior Owen Lowe added seven each. Nucla’s Brycen Rummel and Holten McCluer scored 15 points apiece.
Dolores will travel for regional play against an opponent to be determined, opening in the round of 32 on Friday, March 6. Regional finals are scheduled for the following day.
Dolores tightened its defense against 1A No. 7 Nucla (22‑1, 12‑0) but couldn’t keep pace with the Mustangs’ balanced scoring. Eight Nucla players scored, led by 10 points from junior Lantry Galley and nine from junior Shay Snyder. The Bears managed four field goals in their season finale.
Taylor and Jordyn Erautt combined for 12 points, while Castillo and junior Bryley Paul each added a free throw as Dolores finished fifth in the Basin.
