Craig Daily Press

Craig — So close.

That is how Moffat County High School boys basketball coach Steve Maneotis describes his team’s efforts at netting another win.

In Tuesday’s nonleague game, the Bulldogs (1-10 overall, 0-3 in Western Slope League play) were two minutes shy of their second victory of the season.

They held a lead against Fruita-Monument until 1:58 remained in the game, when the score was tied, 53-53.

Three consecutive turnovers in the final minutes sealed the 60-55 loss.

“Down the stretch, we had all of our starters in foul trouble,” the coach said. “We got to playing tentative, and I told the kids that I thought we played tense and a little scared.”

Maneotis also credited Fruita for its late-game efforts.

“Fruita has tremendous pressure around the perimeter, and their posts did a great job,” he said. “They created some turnovers and got some layups. … We just didn’t handle the pressure well in the last couple of minutes.

“We’re close, so close. This is a good Fruita basketball team that we lost to tonight.”

For the Bulldogs, Eli Buckner scored 17 points; Mike Peters had 14; Blake Najera, 8; Thomas Noble, 6; Chayton Owens, 6; and Kelton Willbanks 4.

For Fruita, Beau Coit scored 14; Alex Mende, 13; and Brett Nankervis, 9.

Despite the loss, Maneotis said his team is headed in the right direction.

“It was a positive game,” he said. “We played without Colton Conrad, who stayed home sick, so we were one man short who is pretty good to us in the post. I think it is another good momentum builder for (weekend road games against) Palisade and Delta.”

The Bulldogs visit Western Slope foe Palisade on Friday. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. They visit Delta on Saturday. Game time is 6 p.m.