Brianna Hanson rewrote most of the career record books for Dolores High School while playing girls basketball for the Bears.

Now this all-star 6-foot forward-post is heading to the next level. She signed a National Junior College Athletic Association National Letter of Intent to play for Western Nebraska Community College in Scoots Bluff.

Hanson, who led the Bears to a third place finish in the Class 2A State Basketball Tournament last February and a fourth-place finish the previous season, now owns most of the school career records in that sport.

She had a career total with 357 offensive rebounds, 757 total rebounds, 204 blocked shots, and 1,056 points (11.5 average). She also had 28 double doubles (double-digit scoring and rebounding) and one triple double (double-digit scoring, rebounding, and assists). She has the best marks for field goals made with 397, free throws made with 255, and free throws attempted 492. She actually ended with 20 school records and 10 career records.

For the 1999-2000 season, Hanson averaged 14.5 points per game. She averaged 10.1 rebounds (253 total), and 3.3 blocked shots. For a big girl, she averaged an amazing 3.3 steals per game. She had 10 double doubles during the season.

Hanson received many different honors during her four years on the varsity. As a sophomore, she was chosen Second Team All-Conference (San Juan League). The next season she was named Second Team All-Conference, Denver Post Honorable Mention All-State, and Rocky Mountain News Honorable Mention All-State. And awards continued to come her way following this past season. She was chosen First Team All-Conference, State All-Tournament Team, Denver Post Second Team All-State, Rocky Mountain News First Team All-State, and named to the Colorado Coaches of Girls’ Sports All-State.

"I will look fondly back on my high school career. I know that I will miss it. I tried to give it my all. I know that I probably could have studied just a little bit harder. But I’m going to miss it a lot. I will miss my friends when I go off to college," Hanson said.

Dolores head girls cage coach Greg Buffington said Hanson is a class individual. She has her picture on the DHS Wall of Fame.

"It has been so fun to watch her grow over the years and turn into an excellent basketball player. All the way back in middle school, you could tell she was going to be a talented player. She just blossomed into being a star.

"She was an excellent leader on the court. She always led by example. Many, many times she stepped up in big, big games and came through. I truly believe she can play at the Division I level if she does well in the classroom and stays focused on the court. She needs to get stronger and spend some time in the weight room. Brianna is a physically gifted athlete. She certainly has the ability to play at that level, but the rest will be up to her," Buffington said.

He noted the best part of her game is just being, "a great all-around player. She is a great shooter and developed into a good defender. She learned how to block a shot without getting herself in foul trouble. She is very quick and drives to the hoop well."

Hanson weighed offers from several schools before deciding to sign with Western Nebraska.

"I received a full-ride scholarship so everything is paid for. By going to a junior college, it is a good way to transfer on to a Division I (National Collegiate Athletic Association) school. Not all that many students coming out of high school go immediately to a Division I school. A lot playing two years of JC ball and then transfer," Hanson said.

She received several bonifide offers and calls from several other schools. Nebraska Western was ranked fourth in the nation with an excellent reputation for sending students on to major colleges.

"I came from a winning program here and I wanted to go to play on another winning program. I went up there for a visit (in mid-April). I got to practice with the team and I liked the girls and coach (Dave Harnish). I got an offer from a school in Sheridan, Wyo., that I considered but I didn’t pick it because of the distance (from home). I liked the school in Nebraska and that’s where I decided to go," she explained.

Hanson said Harnish’s style is much like the run-and-gun style of play she played under Buffington. Harnish indicated Hanson would play the no. 4 position (power forward).

She is leaning towards majoring in elementary education.

"I would like to give something back that was given to me. I want to give them a good education and to hopefully make a difference in their lives. I want to have an influence on their lives," Hanson added.

When not playing hoops, she enjoys water skiing and riding horses. She is working part-time at Quality Ranch and Country, a new store in Cortez.