On paper at least, it appeared that the Dolores girls’ basketball team (3-11 overall, 2-6 in the SJBL) would have no chance against Ignacio (9-3 overall, 6-0 in SJBL) at home on Feb. 2.
Two hours later, after the Bobcats prevailed 46-43 in an overtime game that will be remembered as one of the season’s best, Ignacio head coach Shane Seibel chuckled at the fickleness of pre-game expectations before turning to an Ignacio fan and whispering under his breath, ‘we escaped.’
The stage for the excitement was set early in the contest as the Lady Bears dissected Ignacio’s full court press before eventually finding themselves ahead 24-13 after consecutive three-pointers by Madi Archuleta, the last of which found the bottom of the net just as the halftime buzzer sounded.
The sharp-shooting Dolores senior scored 10 of her team-high 18 points in the first half thanks in large part to a series of nifty in-bounds plays and offensive sets, which allowed to break free along the baseline and drain open shots.
“One of our point guards runs out and the other one sets a screen,” Archuleta said, describing the in-bounds play. “It works when I’m on and tonight I was on a little bit, so it worked well for us.”
Playing against Ignacio role players after Seibel benched his starters to begin the second half, the Lady Bears extended their lead to 30-15 by the midway point of the third quarter thanks to Archuleta’s third three-pointer of the game.
The Bobcats refused to yield however, as junior Avionne Gomez drilled two three-pointers and scored eight consecutive points during an 11-0 run that began with 3:15 left in the third quarter and trimmed the Lady Bears lead to 30-26 entering the fourth.
As the crowd noise amplified over the final eight minutes, the Lady Bears and the Bobcats traded shots in a manner reminiscent of heavyweight fighters, yet in contest game, baskets drew the cheers as opposed to punches.
With Dolores trailing 38-35 with 36 seconds left, Archuleta delivered her biggest play of the season, drawing a foul desperation three-point attempt with 36 seconds left. After missing the first free throw, the senior her composure and drilled her final two attempts much to the chagrin of the home crowd, which roared its approval.
“I couldn’t even think,” said Archuleta, when asked about the crowd noise. “It was so loud that I couldn’t even hear myself think.”
Still trailing by one point with eight seconds left, the Lady Bears were forced to foul Gomez, who walked to the line and confidently knocked one of two free throw attempts to put Ignacio ahead 39-37.
Hoping for one last miracle, Dolores head coach Tiffany Hill signaled time out and quickly drew up a play on the white board as her team gathered close.
Forming a long line out of the time out, the Lady Bears got the ball in-bounds before throwing a long pass to Tatum Majors. The sophomore corralled the ball between two Ignacio defenders with roughly two seconds left before spinning towards the hoop and drawing a foul with three second left.
As the crowd drew its collective breath, Majors stepped to the line and knocked down the two biggest shots of her career, which, after a missed half-court shot attempt by Ignacio, sent the game to overtime tied, 39-39.
“We designed (our inbounds play) so that I could draw the foul and get sent to the free throw line,” Majors said, who scored 17 total points. “Luckily, I came through and got us some points. I was just telling myself to calm down and push (the ball) over the rim and get it in the basket for my team.”
After a back and forth overtime period that saw Dolores take a 41-39 lead before falling behind 43-41 and eventually tying the game at 43, Gomez stepped up and delivered one final dagger in the form of a three pointer from the top of the key with 23 seconds left.
Gomez’s big shot resulted in the final three points of the contest, gave the junior 21 points for the game. Afterwards, Ignacio’s coach spoke about the makings of his star junior’s performance.
“(Gomez) is a gym rat,” said Seibel said. “She’ll stay in the gym and she’ll shoot. She knows that she’s not the fastest on the court and she knows she’s not the tallest, but she can shoot the ball very well and that’s a tribute to her work ethic and her time on the court.”
Shortly after the final buzzer sounded, Dolores and Ignacio players shook hands near the scorer’s table in a mutual display of respect. Clearly pleased with her team’s effort, Hill hugged players before disappearing into the locker room to discuss the Lady Bears’ best game of the season.
Currently sitting seventh in the San Juan Basin League standings, Dolores returns to action at home against Nucla on Feb. 4 while Ignacio’s next contest will take place on the road against Norwood on Feb. 4.
