Miles Bulldogs Get Back on Track With Win Over Colorado City

MILES, TX — After suffering their first district loss earlier this week, the Miles boys basketball team bounced back in a big way Friday with a 66-45 win over Colorado City.

It was exactly what the Bulldogs needed after a surprisingly lopsided 55-30 loss to District 8-2A leader Roscoe on Tuesday.

“We emphasized there were lessons to be learned off that, and it was a good bounce back,” Miles head coach Gerald Butts said. “We know what we can do. We just had to get back to Bulldog fundamental basketball, and once we do that, we’re in good shape. 

“If ever there was a good loss, that was a wake-up call for us, and we’re focused and we’re locked in now.”

Miles improved to 11-4 overall and 3-1 in district. Colorado City dropped to 4-12, 0-4.

Miles trailed 13-7 after a fast start by Colorado City, but the Bulldogs led 16-15 after the first quarter.

Cooper Ellison then took over with 13 straight points for Miles, including a trio of 3-pointers, to put the Bulldogs on top 31-19.

The Bulldogs took a 35-23 lead into halftime.

Miles opened the second half with an 11-0 run to put the game away. Their lead never dropped below 20 again.

“We emphasized defense,” Butts said of the second-half start. “It all starts with defense. Once we can lock people up and take their offense away, we feel like we can play with anybody. To us, defense turns into offense, and that’s the way we get going.”

Ellison finished with a game-high 24 points. Ethan James had 13 and Jaylen Torres had 10.

Ryland Senter had 20 points to lead Colorado City.

Miles has only seven players on its roster, which could prove to be an issue at some point, but the Bulldogs have a talented group despite their lack of depth.

“It’s just a numbers game this year, but I’ll go to battle with those seven players any day of the week,” Butts said. “We can’t do some things we want to do as far as pressing and everything, but half-court defense is the most important defense. If you can lock them up there, you can make things happen.”

Miles will host Coleman on Tuesday, while Colorado City will travel to Winters.