After an exciting season of San Juan Basin League basketball, four Dolores and Mancos basketball players have received all-conference honors.
Headlining the all-conference selections was Dolores High School junior Tristen Swagerty, who received first team all-conference honors for the second straight season.
During his stellar season, the athletic Swagerty averaged a team-high 16.3 points per game and a team-high 9.8 rebounds per game while helping Dolores to a 10-10 record overall.
The junior’s highest scoring performance this season came when he netted 31 points during his team’s season-ending loss to Ridgway on Feb. 21. Swagerty also eclipsed the 30-point mark with a 32-point performance in a win over Antonito on Dec. 1.
“(Swagerty) is kind of the glue that keeps our team together and makes our offense go,” Dolores coach Larry Schwartz said earlier this season.
In recognition of a stellar season in which he helped his team advance to regionals for the first time in several years, Mancos High School sophomore Caden Showalter was named first team all-conference for the second consecutive year.
The postseason honor came after Showalter led his team in scoring (15.8 PPG) and rebounding (13.6 RPG) while consistently dominating the paint and keeping opposing forwards and centers off balance.
Over the course of the year, the sophomore scored 20 or more points in seven games and netted a season-high 24 points in his team’s win over Norwood on Jan. 26.
“I became more mature between my freshman season and my sophomore season,” Showalter said. “This year, I knew what I needed to get done. I was physically aggressive and mentally stable throughout games.”
After an impressive four-year career that concluded with what was likely his finest season, Dolores High School senior Justin Purkat was named to the SJBL’s all-conference team for the first time.
Among the many highlights of Purkat’s season was a 33-point-scoring explosion in his team’s 55-37 victory over Norwood on Feb. 8. Over the course of the year, Purkat averaged 11.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
“(Purkat) has one of the prettiest jump shots in the league,” said Dolores head coach Larry Schwartz, when asked about his senior point guard. “He’s also our team leader and the guy who gets everything going for us.”
Rounding out the area’s all-conference selections was Mancos senior Caleb Yoder, whose well-rounded game caught the attention of fans and coaches all the season and earned him a second team selection.
The honor followed an “honorable mention” all-conference selection last season and came after the senior averaged 13.6 points and 2.2 assists per game in his final high school season.
Yoder’s best game came on Jan. 27, when he dominated on both ends of the floor and scored a team-high 28 points to help his team defeat Ouray, 53-42.
“(My success) is all a product of the offseason,” Yoder said. “It’s the result of going to the park by myself and putting up shots. I look at YouTube videos of footwork and form, and I practice those things.”
Joining the local selections on this year’s all-conference team were Ignacio senior Johnny Valdez, who was named SJBL player of the year. Ridgway coach Jake Colter and Ignacio coach Chris Valdez shared coach of the year honors.
