The top ranked Lobos suffered a critical and heartbreaking loss in the semifinal round of the section tournament last Wednesday night in Show Low to fourth seeded Blue Ridge. Having compiled a 25-2 regular season record and the number one ranking in the power point standings for the majority of the season Snowflake saw all that come to an end in the fourth quarter against the Yellowjackets.
Blue Ridge held a two-point lead after the first and still led by one at the half. The third quarter was when the ‘Jackets pulled out to a double-digit lead, outscoring Snowflake 20-10 in the frame. The Lobos made a game of it in the fourth, but a couple of costly late game turnovers sealed their fate and sent them to the seventh overall seed in the state tournament despite their stellar 25-3 record.
Tanner Crosby finished with 15 points. Gunner Caldwell added 14; Jordan Gardner, 11; Travis Flake, 7; Caedon Ervien and Kegan Bjornn, 5 each; and Kurt Wood, 4 and nine assists.
With the six section winners each receiving a top six seed, the Lobos were pushed down to No. 7 in the bracket. They still get a first round bye, and will face either No. 23 Northland Prep or, most likely, No. 10 Winslow on Friday night, Feb. 20, at a neutral site yet to be determined. With a win they would possibly meet up with No. 2 Cortez on Thursday, Feb. 26, in Glendale.
