Dove Creek has become no stranger to the state’s highest stage. For a second straight season, head coach Julie Kibel’s Bulldogs stood toe-to-toe with one of the premier program’s in the state’s final eight.
For a second straight year, the Bulldogs held a lead in the fourth quarter against an Eastern Plains squad – the McClave Cardinals – only to see their opponent celebrate at the final buzzer, as McClave came up with a 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter to turn a 39-37 deficit into a 48-42 win.
An impressive season for the Bulldogs led them to a rematch of last year’s round of 16 match-up – a Bulldog 20-point win – but this time, the Cardinals turned the tide.
Trailing by 10 points midway through the third quarter, Dove Creek (21-2) turned on the intensity. After backing away from the aggression that helped them sustain the lead through the first half, the Lady Bulldogs drew a collection of fouls against the Cardinals, chipping away at the deficit.
Junior Rylee Hickman attacked the rim, scored and drew a foul, completing a three-point play, bringing the Bulldogs back within 32-25.
A parade of free throws, with four different Bulldogs knocking in tosses, helped Dove Creek close the margin to 35-32 early in the fourth quarter.
Junior Lexi Gray fired home a layup, then a free throw to tie up the score, before Hickman’s driving layup moments later gave Dove Creek their first lead since early in the third quarter.
McClave, however, turned to their senior leader Anna Beckett, whose layup restored the Cardinals’ lead for good. Beckett then added several free throws down the stretch, and Dove Creek couldn’t find one more answer.
Sophomore Kylie Gatlin drained a pair of free throws to pull the No. 6 seed back within 44-42, but McClave (21-1) persevered for the win with a few more free throws in the closing seconds.
Dove Creek demonstrated their early intent to attack the basket. Senior Shania Kibel attacked the rim on the game’s opening possession, dropping in a pair of free throws after she was fouled. Junior Trista Barnett added a jumper moments later, and Bulldogs kept their noses out in front of every McClave response through the first quarter.
A basket by Gray at the horn put Dove Creek up 14-10 after eight minutes.
From there, Dove Creek continued to apply pressure on the Cardinals, trying to take away Beckett. For the first half, the plan worked, as the ‘Dogs built a five point lead early in a low-scoring second quarter, using 5-of-6 shooting from the free throw line to take a 19-18 lead to the half.
However, the supporting cast for the Cardinals started to emerge, with freshman Chloe Weber draining a pair of threes to open the second half, giving McClave their first lead. The burst started the #3 seed on a 14-3 run in the first four minutes of the third quarter to flip the script in the contest.
Both Kalie and Kylie Gatlin, the sophomore standouts for Dove Creek, had productive days, particularly at the free throw line, scoring 10 apiece as Dove Creek’s rally brought them right back into the contest.
However, Beckett’s 13 points pushed the Cardinals over the finish line, propelling the Cardinals to a meeting with No. 2 seed Flatirons Academy in the state semifinals.
Gray scored seven points for the Bulldogs, while Hickman added five.
Dove Creek will play in the consolation bracket, where they will face No 7 seed Cheyenne Wells for an 11:45 tip-off from the University of Northern Colorado. Their contest, along with the boys’ game at 1:15 p.m., are available on local radio station 98.7 FM KRTZ and online at krtzradio.com
