Dora girls open Friday against San Jon

Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer

The Dora Lady Coyotes will be looking to bounce back from last season and a 10-15 record and be competitive in District 3-1A play.

The Melrose Lady Buffaloes defeated Dora 56-38 in the district tournament to end the Lady Coyotes’ season. The Lady Coyotes finished in fourth place in the five-team district with a 2-6 regular season district mark and a 10-15 record overall.

The Lady Coyotes host the San Jon Lady Coyotes on Friday with the junior varsity game starting the action at 4 p.m.

Dora coach Myra Skinner said there are nine players on the varsity team this season. Skinner said there are two other players who will be out at the start of the season due to injury. Kelsi King has a knee injury and Skinner said she probably won’t be back until after Christmas. Santana Chavez is out due to strained ligaments and will be out two to three weeks.

The Lady Coyotes have three seniors on the squad this year: Rana Terry, Kelsey McKinney and Jennifer Bolin.

“I try to provide leadership and enthusiasm to the younger girls,” Terry said. “I try to keep the team together and I give them encouragement during practice to make them better.”

Bolin said she used to play in the basketball gym when the coaches opened it during the off-season. She said the teams were composed of boys and girls.

“It helped improve my game,” Bolin said. “It makes you pick up the intensity. The boys are quicker, stronger and they gave me tips to help me out on the court.”

Dora lost three players from last year’s team because of graduation: Kassandra Clark, D’Shawn Pettigrew and Jenna Bilberry.

McKinney played on the junior varsity team at Portales last year for one year but in previous years she played on the Dora teams.

“I’m excited to get started,” McKinney said. “I’m glad to be back at Dora and playing with the girls I had played with for a long time.”

Terry is a post player while McKinney will be a guard/forward and Bolin will play the guard position. Bolin said her role is much different than last year’s role. Bolin said this season the young players look up to her more and look to her to provide leadership.

The younger players may need to turn to the three seniors for help and encouragement and a good portion of the team is young. The team has three freshman and one eighth-grader on the team.

Coach Skinner will be looking towards other players to make contributions to the team. Skinner said the three freshman, Audra Pinkston, Kendra Merrick and Tearney O’Connor on the team saw some time on the floor for the varsity team.

There are two juniors Cassie Skelley and Iyesha Pareo on the basketball team and Tori Varnell is the lone eighth-grader.

“We’ve got to be patient on offense and look for a good shot,” Skinner said. “We’re young. Everybody’s got to contribute.”

The Fort Sumner Vixens finished in first place in the district and the Lady Buffaloes defeated the Elida Lady Tigers in the district tournament for second in the district. Fort Sumner defeated Des Moines, 46-42, to claim the state title.

Dora Girls Basketball Schedule 2005-06

Date Opponent Time Place

Friday San Jon 4 p.m. Dora

Nov. 28 Clovis Christian 6:30 p.m. Clovis

Nov. 29 Eunice 4 p.m. Eunice

Dec 1-3 Clayton Tournament TBA Clayton

Dec. 6 Texico 4 p.m. Texico

Dec. 8-10 Tularosa Tournament TBA Tularosa

Dec. 15 Roy 3 p.m. Roy

Dec. 16 Farwell 4 p.m. Dora

Dec. 30 Grady 4 p.m. Grady

Jan. 3-7 EPAC Tournament TBA San Jon and ENMU

Jan. 10 House 4 p.m. Dora

Jan. 13 Logan 4 p.m. Dora

Jan. 17 Elida 3 p.m. Dora

Jan. 21 Tatum 4 p.m. Dora

Jan. 24 Fort Sumner 3 p.m. Fort Sumner

Jan. 27 Melrose 4 p.m. Dora

Jan. 31 Floyd 3 p.m. Dora

Feb. 3 Elida 4 p.m. Elida

Feb. 6 Tatum 4 p.m. Tatum

Feb. 10 Fort Sumner 4 p.m. Dora

Feb. 14 Melrose 4 p.m. Melrose

Feb. 17 Floyd 4:30 p.m. Floyd

Feb. 21-25 District Tournament TBA

March 3-4 Regional Tournament TBA

March 7-11 State Tournament TBA