Five games into its season, the Dolores High School is still struggling to find its identity. The Bears continue to improve however, as evidenced the team's play in two contests last week.

Opening the week on the road against Ignacio on Dec. 18, Dolores was outgunned from start to finish, losing 61-29 to the talented Bobcats.

Alejandra Lujan and Avionne Gomez scored 10 points each for Ignacio. The Bobcats led 33-14 at halftime.

"Athletically, I thought we could hang with them," said Dolores head coach Larry Schwartz. Physically, it was a tough game for us. If we had shot the ball better, things might have been different."

Playing one day later on the road against Nucla, Dolores played far better, but lost 58-44. Despite the final score however, Schwartz came away impressed with his team's effort.

"The game was way closer than the final score indicated," said Schwartz. "They had a run at the end of the fourth quarter that gave them that cushion."

Schwartz said that Nucla led by five points at halftime after the Bears led several times during the first two quarters.

"They outrebounded us a couple of times in spurts and that was one of the differences," said Schwartz. "We have to work on (rebounding) over the break."

With their record now at 1-4 on the season, Dolores will next play on the road against Telluride on Jan. 10. The Bears will play their first home game of the year against Dove Creek on Jan. 13.

"I really like where the schedule is going after break," Schwartz said. "We faced a lot of big-time competition before the break and I think that's going to make us tougher down the stretch."