The Bulldogs are much more than a one-man show. First-year head coach Aaron Hankins has Dove Creek positioned to be a real menace in the 2A/1A San Juan Basin League title chase, thanks in large part to the balance that the Bulldogs are developing on offense.
Junior Kade Hankins still is the primary headache for any opposing coaching staff – the stealthy guard entered an important league back-to-back stretch over the weekend, averaging 24 points per outing.
However, it was the complementary scoring from his teammates that will make the difference for a Bulldogs team trying to post consecutive winning seasons for the first time in over two decades.
Dove Creek (7-5, 3-2 2A/1A SJBL) bounced back from a tough loss to Ouray on Friday night, playing inspired basketball on Saturday afternoon against Ridgway in a 60-40 victory that keeps Dove Creek within striking distance of the top of the league standings.
The Bulldogs high-octane defense pounced on the Demons (3-4, 1-2 2A/1A SJBL) right from the opening tip, forcing a series of Ridgway turnovers that Dove Creek turned into points. Before the Demons could catch their breath, Dove Creek led 12-0.
Hankins paced the way, scoring 11 of the 18 first quarter points for Dove Creek, but it was seniors Chorbin Cressler and Ryan Jarmon who guided the early run. Cressler scored on a couple drives to the rim, while Jarmon helped control the glass for the home team, helping the Bulldogs dominate the game with second-chance points.
Ridgway kept the game within single digits for the early part of the second quarter, before the Demons started to wear down under the constant Dove Creek pressure. Tired Demons got caught out of position, leading to numerous fouls that allowed the hosts to stretch their advantage at the charity stripe.
Cressler added a momentum-solidifying three right at the halftime horn, sending the Bulldogs streaming into the locker room with a 35-21 lead.
Dove Creek steadily pulled away in the second half, as juniors Kendall Gardner and Tanner Williams each tallied six points, with Ridgway making a full commitment to double team Hankins every time he touched the ball.
After scoring 27 points the day before in a 57-52 loss to Ouray, Hankins would finish with 26 points to lead all scorers against the Demons, while Cressler joined him in double figures with 11 points. Jarmon added seven points in the winning effort.
Ridgway was led by 13 points from senior Cutler Connaughton.
The victory sets up a huge contest against league front-runner Mancos on Friday, Jan 28. Dove Creek hasn’t beaten Mancos in the lifetime of any of the Bulldog players, but have ambitions of shaking up the league standings when they head to the Performing Arts Center in Mancos for their only meeting this year. The Dove Creek girls will face Mancos at 5:30 p.m., with the boys to follow at 7 p.m.
Both games can be heard on local radio station 98.7 KRTZ and krtzradio.com, with broadcast coverage beginning at 5:15 p.m.
