Opening its season at the Thunderbird Classic in Mosca, Colo., the Dolores High School girls basketball team suffered two blowout losses and put together one exciting win.

Kicking things off against Sangre de Cristo on Dec. 4, Dolores was overwhelmed from the start, losing 57-16 to the eventual tournament champions.

"(Sangre de Cristo's) girls team is huge," said Bears head coach Larry Schwartz. "They have great guard play, and they are very athletic."

Playing against Mesa Vista on Dec. 5, Dolores won for the first time of the season, 35-33.

Schwartz said that the Bears trailed by 11 points at halftime and by as many as 13 points in the third quarter. Thanks to point guards Teegan Hite, Sierra Schwartz and Larissa Umberger however, the Bears seized control in the second half.

"Larissa really stepped up and took care of the ball," said Schwartz. "We were missing our starting point guard, Nicole Kibel, and our guards really stepped up."

Madi Archuleta led the Bears in scoring with 18 points.

"(Archuleta) started out cold, but she lit it up in the second half," said Schwartz. "She hit two threes and that got her going."

Playing their final game of the tournament against Sargent on Dec. 6, the Bears found themselves overmatched, losing 49-16.

"(Sargent) is a team that annually goes to regionals," said Schwartz. "Our girls got physically beaten up in that game. Our girls are more of a finesse team, and (Sargent) had more physical girls than what we could put on the floor at one time."

Now 1-2 on the season, the Bears travel to Ignacio on Dec. 18 to play the Bobcats. The game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.