When the Dolores boys basketball team has been in the midst of some of their pressure cooker games over the past four years, there may not bee a cooler customer in the gymnasium than Bears backcourt leader Jonathan Purkat.
During his sophomore season, that composure took center stage, as the guard scored the game-winning basket – his only field goal of the night – in the dying seconds in their stunning 55-54 rivalry victory over Mancos – the only Dolores win in the Highway 184 series since 2018.
His journey, however, hasn’t been without its tribulations. Right before his junior season, where both he and classmate Mark Palate appeared poised to take the torch as the next leaders of the program, Purkat suffered a dramatic setback – a torn ACL and the subsequent months ahead of rehab and recovery.
Purkat’s absence was palpable in the Bears’ 2-18 campaign from his junior season, a year in which Purkat was left to spectate while recovering – his presence at every practice and on the bench was uplifting, but his on-court leadership certainly missed.
“It was tough – I really wanted to be on the court,” said Purkat, “just losing that time I’d have with my teammates – and now I’m trying to make up for that year I lost.”
A substantial stabilizing right leg brace serves as a constant reminder of the thin line that Purkat continues to stride, looking to continue to make the same hustle plays Bears fans have become accustomed to witnessing, while also making sure to use discretion to minimize risk of re-injury.
“The biggest thing getting back on the court was the mind game – I knew my leg was weaker,” detailed Purkat of his hurdles while getting back into playing shape, “for 10 months straight, it’s been countless lunges, squats, all sorts of physical therapy – and I still have to be careful when jabbing quick or landing on the leg.”
With each passing week, there appears to be more confidence growing for Purkat, “I’m trusting that its strong enough now.”
Amid all of the ups and downs, the Bear captain looks to close out the season with the same passion for dedication and teamwork that allowed him to break in to the varsity rotation in his freshman season. While never the primary scorer for head coach Joel Balderrama, Purkat’s seven points per game only tell a fraction of the tale for his impact on the floor.
In an era where generating meme-worthy content while degrading opposition has become ubiquitous across the athletic landscape, from the youth ranks to the pros, Purkat chooses to take a different tact.
“Sportsmanship is what I’d like the younger guys to value,” said Purkat of his legacy, “and being leaders in their actions on and off the court. I hope that the program keeps building, even after I’m gone – the coaches, the younger players – they’re definitely working toward some big things.”
His friendship with Palate, with whom Purkat learned the varsity ropes together as sharpshooting freshmen, has sustained throughout the four years. Palate currently leads the Bears in scoring and is always a threat to go off from deep.
“He’s such a good teammate,” said Purkat of Palate, “always super-aggressive, always looking for other people on the court.”
As for his final hurrah for high school athletics, Purkat had to make a tough decision about what to do with his second passion – baseball.
Even with the reinstitution of Dolores baseball this upcoming spring, Purkat opted to play out his final high school season with the Dove Creek program – where he had donned a Bulldog uniform over the past three years.
“I’ve made a lot of friends there, too,” said Purkat of his split allegiance between Dolores and Dove Creek, “I’m excited for the opportunity to get to play against Dolores this spring.”
In the short-term, however, squeezing the last moments of joy and appreciation out of his basketball experience takes priority for him. The Bears sit at 4-11 as they hit the home stretch, hoping to put together a fantastic finish to the season.
“I love this game,” said Purkat, speaking of his time under the bright lights in the DHS Fieldhouse, “it’ll be emotional to realize that this is my last time playing here, but it’s been fun – I’m so glad I got to share it with all of these guys.”
