Able to expand a 20-19 halftime lead Friday night to a promising nine-point (28-19) pad midway through the third quarter, Dolores’ Lady Bears still led visiting Telluride 30-27 as the fourth and final frame began.
Considering DHS was playing without four ineligible/unavailable regulars and a fifth no longer on the roster, that was no small achievement against a THS squad performing more and more consistently – particularly after intermission.
And thanks to junior Tjarn Lyons’ eight points late in the third, the Lady Miners – seeking their program’s first win since February 9, 2021 – were fortunate to be just three points down with eight minutes remaining in regulation.
Junior forward/center Emma Reggiannini got the fourth-quarter scoring started with a rebound and putback, and Lyons converted a steal into a layup bringing Telluride level at 31-all. But shortly after, Dolores received a mental boost when THS starting center/forward Fianna Ahern fouled out with 4:17 to go, and another pick-me-up when THS starting guard Emma Galleger fouled out with 2:54 left and the visitors clinging to a 33-31 lead.
DHS freshman Madison Thornbrugh, however, fouled out with 2:28 remaining, and despite a true team effort—spearheaded by sophomore Taylor Erautt and sophomore Keeley Clarke – the Lady Bears, finally playing their first home game of the 2023-24 season, still trailed 34-32 when head coach Tiffany Hill called a preparatory timeout with 59.2 ticks left.
But soon after Dolores put the ball back in play, the Lady Miners regained possession with 38.9 seconds to go after Reggiannini fought for the ball and Telluride having the possession arrow. With 0:20.5 still showing on the scoreboard clock, Lyons then swished the 2A/1A San Juan Basin League contest’s two most clutch free throws – giving THS a certain one-, but more likely two-score advantage, and with total knowledge of which Lady Bears would likely attempt the needed shots from the floor.
Erautt was definitely the one to watch, and she was unluckily called for traveling in the offensive end with only 4.3 seconds left. The Lady Miners, however, inbounded the ball to … nobody, and DHS had another chance at a miracle.
Inbounded from the far side of the floor across from the Lady Bears’ bench, the ball went to Clarke, but Clarke lost her footing while receiving the pass and simultaneously maneuver into position to hoist up a three-pointer, and watched the ball skitter away and into the hands of THS sophomore Kendal O’Callaghan just before time expired.
Including a layup off her own missed throw, alertly rebounded in the lane when neither side vied for the rock, which gave Dolores (2-10 overall; 0-1 SJBL, 0-1 2A SJBL) the aforementioned nine-point advantage, Erautt finished with a valiant, team-high 17 points. Ten came during the second quarter, including a buzzer-beating layup after sophomore Natalya Castillo inbounded her the ball with 0:03.3 left.
Clarke went 6-of-12 from the foul line and ended up totaling 12 points while Thornbrugh finished with two, Castillo one and junior Halee Kibel – slowed greatly by four first-half personal fouls – one.
Going 6-of-8 from the charity stripe, and with two treys (and almost a third) to her name, Lyons racked up a game-high 18 points for Telluride (1-8 overall; 1-1 SJBL, 1-1 2A SJBL). Reggiannini registered 13, sophomore Delia Noel and Galleger each booked two, and sophomore Madeline McNamara one.
Expected winter weather permitting, the Lady Bears were to next travel to Ridgway (3-3; 1-0, 1-0) on the 13th.
