MANCOS – Right from the opening tipoff of the 2024-25 season, the Dolores Bears committed themselves to play for their senior teammate Jesse “JD” Minor, who passed away this past summer.
All the way through the end of the basketball season, the Bears stayed true to their word, playing a brand of hard-nosed basketball that made them a tough customer in every outing in the San Juan Basin League.
The Bears put the finishing touches on their emotional season, pouncing on Mancos on the Bluejays Senior Night in a 60-35 victory. The three Bears seniors each made their mark in their final game of their Dolores careers, each amassing double figure scoring to lift the visitors to a season sweep of their Highway 184 rivals.
Mancos, looking to avoid a winless season, put up a stern test through the opening quarter, but Dolores (7-15, 4-8 SJBL) dominated around the rim to steadily pull away in the middle two frames.
Dolores first-year head coach Nick Traweek watched as his son, senior Tray Traweek, put together a fitting conclusion to his DHS hoops career, scoring 23 points and dropping in four three-pointers including the final points of the contest.
Traweek, along with classmates Michael Nielson and Zach Rantz spurred the memorable night, as Nielson posted a massive night around the basket with scoring and rebounding, while Rantz made his mark from beyond the arc.
Nielson and Rantz both finished with 11 points, with Rantz scoring all of his tallies in the second half.
The Bears wore purple on their own Senior Night on Tuesday in honor of Minor, and the Class of 2025 made sure that they fulfilled their promise to played inspired basketball for their fallen teammate in their final game.
“They’ve been consistent for us all year,” said Nick Traweek of his trio of seniors, “and tonight they were super excited about the game – it’s really good to see them finish like this. The whole team was rooting them on.”
An impact player since his freshman year on the hardwood, track, and the gridiron, Tray Traweek left his mark on a growing Bears program.
“Tray’s been resilient – he’s been through a lot,” said his father and head coach, “but he’s been a good role model for the younger kids – I’m proud of the man that’s he’s become.”
Mancos (0-22, 0-12 SJBL) honored their two seniors – Seth Oakes and Spencer Eschallier – and with Eschallier relegated to spectate due to injury, Oakes helped lead the charge for the Jays. Along with sophomore James Potts’ team-high 12 points, Oakes added eight of his own. Every time that the hosts would put together a little run, however, Dolores found a response.
DHS sophomore Koby McClellan added nine points for the winning cause as the Bears improved on their win total for the second straight year. Mancos junior Miguel Derizotis, who took over as the leading scorer for the Jays in Eschallier’s absence and scored six points in the contest, looks to lead a youthful program again next winter.
“We’ve come along way, and I feel like we’re on the right track,” said Traweek, “and they’re adopting the mindset that basketball never stops. There’s a lot of be excited about for this program.”
