Dove Creek boys basketball has developed a flair for the dramatic. In yet another tight game, the Bulldogs leaned on their senior leadership down the stretch of their Border War meeting with Monticello to pick up a 39-36 victory on their home floor to close out a perfect weekend for D.C. hoops.
For the second time in two years, the Buckaroos and Bulldogs met to decide the Bulldog Holiday Classic title – and in both meetings, the game came down to the final possessions. Late free throws put Dove Creek over the top, breaking a 36-all tie in the closing stages, sending Dove Creek to their second consecutive home tournament crown and their third consecutive win heading into the holidays.
Dove Creek (6-2) advanced to the championship game with a 49-32 win over Nucla (2-3) on Friday evening, and followed up their effort against tough Buckaroo pressure by grinding out the game in the second half.
The Bulldogs used a strong second quarter to swing momentum in their favor, as senior Kade Hankins scored 10 of his game-high 11 before the intermission as the Bulldogs established a 22-14 edge through two quarters.
Monticello (3-5) battled back in the third behind senior Easton Young’s 11 points for the visitors. With less than two minutes to go, the Buckaroos tied the game, but Dove Creek senior Tanner Williams answered by drawing a foul and draining free throws to restore the Bulldogs lead. Late Monticello attempts to tie the contest fell off the rim, and D.C. could celebrate back-to-back holiday tournament titles.
Senior Asher Nye and sophomore Sheldon Gardner made life difficult in the interior for the Buckaroos offense, forcing Monticello to knock down perimeter shots.
Meanwhile, after a quiet game against Nucla, senior Cole Taber tallied eight big points for head coach Aaron Hankins’ Bulldogs.
Williams finished with nine points, a day after pouring in a dozen against the Mustangs.
“We wanted to come in here and win our home tournament – that’s always the goal,” said Hankins, “but to do it with high energy. That’s something we can build on moving forward.”
In their holiday tournament opener, Dove Creek controlled the tempo from the early stages against league foe Nucla, turning errant passes into transition points, led by 20 tallies from Hankins.
The Mustangs stayed within double figures early in the fourth quarter thanks to hot shooting from freshman Brycen Rummel, but D.C. junior Gage Buffington helped close the door with a pair of big baskets down the stretch to keep Nucla at arm’s length.
An early season three-point victory over Ignacio, balanced with a tough one-point loss to Ouray, have Hankins’ team ready to handle late-game pressure.
“We’re still transitioning football players into basketball players,” said Hankins of his team’s shift after the state title football season, “so we’re looking to get off to stronger starts in games, and be able to sustain that for four quarters.”
After making their maiden trip to the state tournament in 2022, the Bulldogs now know that they will be getting the full attention of every opponent on their San Juan Basin League schedule.
“The seniors are used to pressure by now,” said Hankins of his upperclassmen, “and this group has had a ton of growth over their four years – and they’ve really developed their court knowledge and can handle the ups and downs on the court with maturity.”
Dove Creek will see both of their holiday tournament foes again in January, as they meet Nucla in their league opener on Friday, Jan. 13, before a rematch against Monticello on Jan. 24. The Bulldogs also face a rematch against Ouray on Jan. 20, and then close the month with a home dual against Mancos on Jan. 27.
