Soon after the Dolores High School boys basketball team lost to Ridgway, 52-46, Larry Schwartz emerged from the locker room tired and exasperated.
Over the next two minutes, the longtime coach talked about his team’s slow start and defensive struggles. He went on to speak about his team’s inability to convert easy baskets and then credited Ridgway’s effort. He emphasizing that his team needs to improve.
“We just came out flat-footed, and the defense wasn’t what we needed it to be,” the Dolores coach said. “We missed too many easy shots at the basket on our home floor. For some reason, (Ridgway) has had our number this season. I don’t know why, but I guess we have to figure it out before districts.”
Among the factors contributing to the Bears’ demise was Ridgway’s ability to execute offensively using a mix of flash cuts and on-ball screens. Against Dolores’ 2-3 zone, Ridgway deftly ran its offense through the high post and against the Bears’ man-to-man defense, the Demons feasted on backdoor cuts.
The game remained close however, thanks to impressive shooting and rebounding by Dolores junior Tristen Swagerty, who scored eight points during a first quarter that ended with Dolores trailing 15-12.
After Ridgway’s defense began to key on Swagerty in the second quarter, the Bears turned to Justin Purkat, whose 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2:30 left in the half helped cut Ridgway’s lead to 25-19.
A basket by Dakota Smith on a baseline drop step through two Ridgway defenders capped a 7-0 Dolores run and brought the score to 25-21 heading into the halftime. Smith and Swagerty overpowered Ridgway defenders down low in the third quarter, and by the start of the fourth quarter, Dolores trailed 35-34.
“We always work on post moves in the paint, and that always helps,” Smith said of Dolores’ ability to control the paint.
“We had a really shaky start, and nothing would drop, but as the game went on, we were able to get the ball inside and we got better and better,” Swagerty added.
Closing the gap in the fourth quarter, Dolores took its first lead since the opening minute of the game when Smith rebounded a Swagerty free throw and scored to put the Bears ahead 36-35.
Ridgway responded with five straight points from senior Jimmy Saville, and the Bears never regained the lead despite four fourth-quarter points from Smith and fourth-quarter 3-pointers by Purkat and Swagerty.
Swagerty led Dolores with 19 points, Smith contributed 15 points, and Purkat chipped in 12. No other Dolores players scored. Ridgway was led by Kaden Forest, with 16.
Now 9-7 overall and 6-4 in the San Juan Basin League, Dolores will prepares fo a road matchup against Ridgway on Feb. 8. Ridgway, which is 6-10 on the season and 5-5 in the San Juan Basin League, will play at home against Ignacio on Feb. 10.
“We have high goals,” said Smith. “We want to have at least 10 wins and have a winning season, but we have to win some more games down the stretch, and that means just playing our game and having fun.”
