Area high school basketball teams kicked off the 2016-17 season last week, beginning on Wednesday in Dove Creek.
Dove CreekThe Dove Creek Lady Bulldogs fell to the Ignacio Lady Bobcats 45-18 in their season opener on Wednesday at home. They then dropped their first road game of the year against De Beque on Saturday, 44-14.
The Dove Creek boys didn’t fare much better, falling to Ignacio 76-16 and then narrowly losing to De Beque 55-52.
The Bulldogs will look to right the ship in their next contest on Tuesday, as they host the Dolores Bears beginning with JV games at 4 p.m.
DoloresWhile they’ll next travel to Dove Creek on Tuesday, both Dolores squads started their seasons over the weekend at the Thunderbird Shootout at Sangre de Cristo High School.
The Lady Bulldogs finished the tourney with a 1-2 record, falling to Sangre de Cristo 48-25 and Salida’s JV 47-27, but finished the weekend with a win over Sierra Grande’s JV, 46-16.
The Bears had better luck, and nearly finished undefeated.
They fell to Sangre de Cristo in their opener 46-42, but then the Bears bounced back to defeat Antonito 67-41 and Centennial 63-53 to move to 2-1 early in the season.
MancosThe Mancos boys team also started its season on the road, traveling to Rehoboth Christian High School in Rehoboth, New Mexico for the Lynx’ home tournament.
Playing against stout competition, the young Blue Jays dropped three straight, losing to Ganado 63-26, Denver Christian 58-23 and Red Valley/Cove 54-36.
The Lady Blue Jays didn’t participate in a tournament, but they too fell in their season opener, losing at Bayfield on Saturday, 38-24.
Both Mancos squads will look to get in the win column on Tuesday as they host Shiprock Northwest, beginning with the varsity girls at 5 p.m.
Montezuma-CortezNow in the Class 3A Intermountain League, the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers started off the year against some familiar foes.
Playing in Grand Junction Central’s Warrior Challenge, the Panthers dropped games to members of their former league – the 4A/5A Southwestern League – in Fruita Monument, 63-40 and Grand Junction Central, 65-39.
They did, however, snag one win on the weekend, holding on to defeat Carbon (Price, Utah) 53-52.
The M-CHS boys do not play again until Tuesday, Dec. 13, when they host Monticello. But the Lady Panthers play in their season opener on Tuesday at Grand County (Moab, Utah) at 7 p.m.