Fifteen minutes after the buzzer sounded in the Dolores gymnasium, signaling the end of his team’s 47-44 home victory over Ouray, the Dolores High School boys basketball coach Larry Schwartz was still shaking.
“Probably in my career, that was the greatest game I’ve ever been a part of,” Schwartz said, as he congratulated his players and hugged fans. “I’ve been a part of a lot of big games, but that comeback was incredible.”
The comeback began in earnest midway through the third quarter of the San Juan Basin League matchup between Dolores (6-5 overall, 3-3 in the SJBL) and Ouray (7-4 overall, 2-2 in SJBL). Trailing 32-23 after a back-and-forth first half that concluded with an 8-0 Ouray run, Dolores benefited from several strong post moves and buckets from Dakota Smith and an impressive rebound and put back from Cris Rudosky to trim Ouray’s lead to 33-32 entering the fourth quarter.
“When we don’t have our three game going, we like to go inside and get a couple of buckets,” said Smith, who scored seven points in the third quarter and 15 points overall.” Our inside game is very important.”
As important as post scoring was for Dolores during the third quarter, however, fast-break buckets and clutch free throws stole the show during a furious final eight minutes that featured momentum swings and awe-inducing moments.
Trailing 42-41 with 1:26 left, Dolores was gifted two points when Ouray senior Kikito Meraz was called for a technical after slamming the ball in disgust after a foul call and Bears senior Tristan Medina calmly sank his fifth and sixth free throws of the fourth quarter to put his team ahead 44-43.
“I couldn’t stop shaking on those technical free throws,” said Medina, who scored 15 points in the contest. “It’s part of the game, and I love it. ‘Ice in our veins,’ that’s our motto.”
After Ouray senior Ravi Inmon drilled two clutch free throws of his own to put Ouray ahead 44-43 with 1:01 left, Medina found Smith on the low block for a layup to put Dolores back ahead 45-44 with 0:44 seconds left.
With the clock winding down and both teams scrambling for possession after a missed Medina free throw, the ball found its way into the hands of Justin Purkat, who collected himself just past half court and exploded for a breakaway layup as time expired.
As the crowd roared its approval and players rushed the court, Schwartz flexed his muscles and hugged an assistant coach nearby before racing onto the court to congratulate his players.
“They just stuck at it and kept believing,” Schwartz said. “The young guys are getting better each week. I’m so proud of all my boys.”
In addition to Medina and Smith’s scoring contributions, Tristen Swagerty scored eight points, Purkat scored five points, and Rudosky scored four point for the Bears. Senior Brendan Olin led Ouray with 13 points.
Dolores will next play on the road against Del Norte on Jan. 30 before returning home to face the Dove Creek Bulldogs on Jan. 31.