Dolores Girls Basketball Wins Overtime Thriller, 54 49

Dolores High School defeated Bayfield 54 49 in overtime Tuesday evening at Bayfield High School, a tense opening game that tested depth and discipline for both teams. Senior Taylor Erautt led the Bears with a game high 17 points, while sophomore Emilynn Hill added 11 and sophomore Jordyn Erautt contributed nine. Bayfield junior Vivien Clance scored 16 for the Wolverines.

Dolores began the game already down three of its listed 10 players and lost three more to fouls over the course of the contest. Bayfield also suffered foul attrition, including the loss of sophomore Grace Brown with 34.5 seconds left in regulation. With both teams shorthanded, the game swung on late plays and free throw execution. Hill’s two point runner, set up by junior Bryley Paul’s defensive steal, tied the score at 47 with under a minute to play. The teams traded opportunities before regulation ended tied and overtime began.

In the extra session Erautt hit free throws to build a slim lead, and despite missing some attempts she finished three of seven from the line in overtime and six of 11 for the game overall. Late fouls and cramps further reduced available players for both sides, but Dolores held on when Bayfield’s final pass into the paint was intercepted by senior Kacey Schmittel in the closing seconds. Coach Michael Nielson praised the team’s turnaround from a lopsided loss to the same opponent last year and credited recent conditioning and bonding as key factors. “They played these same girls last year and lost by 20, but this year they have really high hopes,” Nielson said. “They’ve really bonded together in the last couple of days, they’ve just worked their butts off, conditioned really hard …. and I couldn’t be prouder.” Hill emphasized the team focus going into a busy weekend. “We’re going in with seven (players),” Hill said, “but we are definitely looking forward, heads high, to this weekend. And knowing how well we started (with) this game just sets off the energy to keep going.”

Free throw shooting was a decisive element, as Bayfield made 13 of 31 attempts while Dolores converted 13 of 30. The Bears led by as many as six in the first quarter and mounted several comebacks as players rotated through foul trouble. The win improves Dolores to a 1 to 0 record, while Bayfield falls to 0 to 1.

Dolores will play in the Sangre de Cristo Thunderbird Shootout in Mosca Thursday through Saturday, opening against the host team at 6 p.m. and then meeting either La Veta or Dove Creek the following day. Bayfield will next travel to Creede on Dec. 12. For Dolores, the victory is a proof point that conditioning and collective defense can sustain a small roster through the high intensity of early season tournaments.