MANCOS – With their high-pressure brand of basketball, the Dolores girls team thrives on high-percentage chances created by turnovers and second-chance looks around the rim.
In search of a second-half spark against cross-county rival Mancos, Bears senior Taylor Erautt took a different route. She fired a barrage of 3-pointers in a back-and-forth second half Friday night, finishing with a team-high 21 points and, more importantly, keeping every Bluejays run at bay in a 41-37 victory that ended a 12-game skid for Dolores in the series.
In the first of two Highway 184 meetings this winter, Erautt splashed in three of her four long-range shots during a stretch when she scored 14 of the team’s 23 second-half points. Her surge kept the visitors in front while countering the Mancos senior tandem of Destiny Kramer and Caylee Moore, who combined for 23 points.
Mancos (2-7, 1-3 3A/2A/1A SJBL) had dominated the rivalry since February 2020, something the Bears senior class was determined to change. Erautt’s outburst capped an impressive week, following a career-high 22 points against Telluride on Tuesday night.
First-year head coach Mike Nielson’s Bears bounced back from a tough league-opening loss to Ridgway by blasting Telluride 51-25, putting DHS (5-6, 2-1 SJBL) on track for its first top-three league finish since 2018-19. Sophomores Jordyn Erautt and Emilynn Hill added eight and seven points, respectively, while senior co-captain Kacey Schmittel chipped in three.
Talk about a turnaround – the Dolores boys reversed their scoring fortunes after managing only 30 points in a midweek loss to Telluride. In 24 hours over the weekend, DHS combined for 135 points in wins over Mancos (60-26) and Ouray (75-62), vaulting into league contention through two weeks of SJBL play.
Dolores (8-4, 3-1 SJBL) jumped on host Mancos with a 16-5 start, led by junior Koby McClellan, who hit four 3-pointers and scored 20 points before the Bears bench closed it out in the final quarter. Ten different Bears scored as the lead became insurmountable in the third, with sophomore Lane Johnson adding eight points and junior Miles Brown seven.
Second-year head coach Nick Traweek’s squad dictated the pace in both wins, playing the up-tempo style that has produced the team’s highest win total since 2021-22 – with half the season still to play.
Mancos (1-8, 0-4 SJBL) was led by junior James Potts with 12 points, while freshman Mitchell Smith added six. The tough home loss followed a competitive 33-30 defeat to Dove Creek earlier in the week.
Dolores visits former SJBL foe Ignacio on Tuesday before resuming league play Saturday at Dove Creek. Mancos returns to action Jan. 24 at Telluride.
