Riding a wave of momentum into their first state tournament appearance, no opposition would faze a gritty, never-say-die Dove Creek boys team.
Not even the top-ranked team in the state.
Facing No. 1 Sierra Grande for the second time this season, Dove Creek gave the Panthers all they could handle Thursday before falling 62-52.
In their first meeting in January, the Panthers leaned on a strong start to keep Dove Creek at arm’s length, en route to a 67-48 victory. This time, the Bulldogs were ready from the opening tip.
The Bulldogs appeared to be more poised to face the pressure of playing on the University of Colorado’s Bank of Colorado Arena, racing out to an early lead. Senior Ryan Jarmon scored the contest’s first four points, as Dove Creek (13-11) held the undefeated Panthers (24-0) scoreless through the opening three minutes.
Junior Kade Hankins put on a show in the opening quarter, scoring eight points as the Bulldogs led by as many as six points, at 12-6 with over a minute to go in the opening stanza.
However, Sierra Grande started to get their primary scorers going late in the quarter. The smallest player on the floor, 5-foot-4 sophomore Brian Ontiveros, caught fire for the Panthers, draining three triples in the second quarter, seizing momentum and the Panthers’ first lead.
The contest seesawed midway through the second quarter, with Jarmon’s layup giving Dove Creek the lead, 22-21 with four minutes left before halftime.
Then, Panthers senior Isiah Chairez took over.
After scoring 32 points in their first meeting, Chairez put on his own scoring barrage, scoring 12 points in the second quarter to help Sierra Grande build a 33-27 lead at the intermission.
Hankins and Jarmon accounted for 23 of the 27 Bulldog points in the first 16 minutes, which prompted the Panthers to clamp down on the duo in the second half.
In a decisive third quarter, Sierra Grande outscored the Bulldogs 12-4, ballooning the lead to 48-31 early in the fourth quarter.
As has become their standard this season, however, head coach Aaron Hankins and his Bulldogs weren’t going to fade into the Greeley night. Junior Tanner Williams knocked in a basket, followed up by an old-fashioned three-point play.
While Sierra Grande kept their lead at the free-throw line, Dove Creek continued to chip away, thanks to back-to-back threes from junior Cole Taber and Hankins, cutting the deficit to 53-46 with three minutes left.
However, the Panthers had just enough of an answer to deny the Bulldogs’ furious rally. Chairez poured in 28 points to lead all scorers, making a handful of late free throws, and the clock struck midnight on a feisty Dove Creek rally.
Hankins again paced the Bulldogs in scoring, finishing with 23 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Jarmon finished with 13 points, to go along with six points from senior Chorbin Cressler.
Ontiveros’ 21 tallies proved to be a big lift for the top seed, helping turn the tide after the strong Dove Creek start.
Dove Creek falls to the consolation bracket to face the loser of No. 4 Caprock Academy and No. 5 McClave, while Sierra Grande will take on the winner of that matchup in the 1A state semifinals. The Bulldogs’ consolation round game is slated for 1:15 p.m. Friday.
