After losing three of its first four games, the season, the Dolores High School girls basketball team has won three of its last four.
Dolores falls to Norwood
Playing at home against defending Class 1A state champion Norwood, the Bears lost, 48-33, but head coach Larry Schwartz was pleased with his team's effort.
"I was really proud of our team," said Schwartz. "Basically, we matched Norwood bucket for bucket. The girls came out fired up, and we gave them one heck of a game."
Schwartz said 3-15 free-throw shooting doomed the Bears.
"Norwood hit their free throws, and we didn't, said Schwartz. "That was the difference in the game."
Junior guards Nicole Kibel and Larissa Umberger scored eight points, and senior post Jessica Schliesser had seven points, four rebounds and two steals. Norwood senior Jordon Williams scored a game-high 20 points.
"The Williams girl was tough," Schwartz. She's just one physical guard, and she crashes the boards extremely hard."
Dolores flies past Ouray
Hitting the road to face Ouray on Jan. 17, Dolores played one of its best games, coming away with a 49-35 victory.
Kibel hit five three-point field goals and scored 22 points. Umberger added nine points, and junior Teagan Hite added nine off the bench.
"The Ouray game was a good comeback win," said Schwartz. "Our girls came out with tired legs, but once they got their legs under them, things started clicking."
Keying the Bears win was the ability to limit Ouray senior Jackie Saunders to 16 points. Saunders entered the game averaging a San Juan Basin League leading 20.2 points per game.
"The game plan going in was to control Jackie, and we did a good job of that," said Schwartz.
Now 4-5, Dolores plays Ridway at home on Jan. 23, and Nucla at home on Jan. 24.
"Ridgway is going to play a lot like Norwood," said Schwartz. "They are big physical girls. Nucla handled us (earlier this season) on the defensive and offensive boards. I think it's going to be a way better matchup this time around."
