BY JIM THOMAS

It has been a long, long time since a Dolores County High School boys basketball team has advanced into Regional play. Not since the late 1980s have the Bulldogs made an appearance. But that all came to an end Friday night, Feb. 25, when they beat Mancos 50-36 in the semifinals of the Class 2A District III Basketball Tournament held in Ron Wright Memorial Gym at Montezuma-Cortez High School. They Bulldogs lost to Nucla, the tournament’s top seed, 53-47 in the championship game Saturday night which determines seedings for Regionals, set March 4 at Grand Junction High School.

In the semifinals Friday night, the Bulldogs and the Blue Jays battled in the first quarter with neither deciding much. Mancos led 3-2 early when Ray Thomas made an old-fashioned three-point play. The score was deadlocked 5-5 and 9-9 before Mancos led 12-11 when the quarter ended.

Terence Gardner tied the game at 14-all after making a lay-up. But Bill Baker came right back and nailed a three and then Gardner made an old-fashioned three-point play to tie it again at 17. Finally, Dove Creek’s defense forced the Blue Jays into making some errors and the Dogs led 23-18. Dove Creek was moving the ball well offensively. But Dove Creek held only a 25-23 lead at the intermission.

Keith Pierce made a lay-up early in the third quarter which put the Bulldogs up 28-23. That set tone especially for what he had in store for the Jays. He scored 8 points in the first half but would score 16 in the third quarter alone. In fact, he would do all the scoring for Dove Creek that quarter. Pierce hit four threes during that span. Dolores County led 42-27.

Clark muscled in one shot and drove the lane for another for the Jays early in the fourth. But the lead was too much for the Jays to overcome.

"We played excellent defense," DCHS first-year coach Scott Crawford remarked. "We got some baskets because of it. Yes, it was a pretty good effort defensively. I thought we rebounded very well which was a key. That is another one of strengths all year. Keith finally broke out and had a great game offensively."

Thomas led Mancos with 13 and Gary Baker added 8. Pierce finished with a game-high 26 and Gardner chipped in 11.

Mancos ended an up-and-down season.

"We played a good first half and then we let our gameplan get away from us," Mancos coach Gary Hill commented. "Pierce did an outstanding job against us. He hit inside and he outside. We did not rebound at all. But on the season, the kids worked hard. It was an up-and-down year for us. It frustrating because we lost Kelly Smith (broken leg during football) before the season started and then we lose Jesse Rousset (out with season-ending injury). We were on a definite rollercoaster."

The Bulldogs took on Nucla, a 55-29 winner over Norwood in the other semifinals, in the championship game Saturday.

Chris Kail put Dove Creek on top 5-4 early in the first period after sinking a three. But Dove Creek turnovers and mistakes turned into points by the Mustangs. Nucla led 12-7 with 3:41 to play. Michael Epright canned a three with 1 tick left giving Nucla a 21-11 lead when the quarter ended.

Nucla had the momentum early in the second and Crawford called a 20-second time to try and stop the tide from turning. Pierce, who had a breakout night the game before, scored only his first bucket but Nucla still led 26-16. Nucla led 29-20 at the half.

The Bulldogs pulled within five at 34-29 and then Kail brought the team within two 34-32 with a three from the top of the key. But Nucla came right back as Chris Robuck answered with a three. Robuck hit another three at the end of the quarter. Nucla led 41-35.

The Bulldogs rallied and cut the lead to one at 41-40 at 5:50 showing. But Epright buried a three from the wing. Justin Wyatt countered with a three a few seconds later. The score was still tight at 46-45 with Nucla leading and calling time with 2:36 to play. Nucla led 49-47 with 13 seconds to go but DCHS was forced to foul. Josh Hainey and Epright made four free throws down the stretch for the win.