Dolores Bears basketball begins a fresh start.
Many new varsity faces arent the only thing this season. Theres a new head coach in Larry Schwartz, whos installing a new uptempo run-and-gun offense.
Were pushing the ball up and down the court, said Schwartz, a former Montezuma-Cortez assistant. We play a lot of trapping defenses. The main thing is just to get the ball up the court and put pressure on the defense. The way I coach, we like to change things up all the time. We find the weaknesses of the other team and we try to exploit it.
Returning junior leading scorer Cody Carroll is back to run the offense at point guard. Sophomore center Tyler Weir is back in the starting lineup after greatly maturing as his freshman year went on. Thats it, as far as returning starters go. But juniors Austin Blackmer and Jakob Rudosky, and senior Alex Goodwin appear primed to compete as starters. Carroll has embraced the role of team leader to the younger players.
I think its a lot of fun, because I get to teach them what I know. I wish I had someone to teach me, Carroll said. I think were going to be a really good team this year. A lot better than last year. We were really individual-ed out last year. This team, we play really well together.
Dolores limped to a 7-14 record last season. The Bears are determined to do better in the 2A/1A San Juan Basin League.
Were looking to be one of the top-three teams in the league, Schwartz said. We want to make it into the regional round. Thats our first goal right there. We need to pick it up another level where it hasnt been in the last couple of years.
Dolores plays Sierra Grande today at 4:15 p.m. in the Adams State College Thunderbird Shootout in Alamosa. Tournament play continues through Saturday.
The Bears will host the Montezuma-Cortez junior varsity on Dec. 6. The Panthers JV is coached by former Dolores coach Justin Schmitt. On Dec. 9-10, Dolores will play in the Wolf Creek Classic at Pagosa Springs.
League play begins at home with Nucla on Dec. 16, before going to Bayfield on Dec. 17 to conclude nonconference play. The regular season ends on Feb. 17, 2012 in Ridgway.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.