Snowflake and Holbrook entered Friday’s game in Holbrook ranked right next to each other at 12th and 13th respectively. Both teams came into the game with 11 regular season wins thanks to Holbrook’s win at Winslow on Tuesday night and the Lady Lobos lopsided 59-27 home court win over Payson on the same night.
It was senior night in Holbrook and by the time the night was done Holbrook senior Madison Chappell crushed the Lobos hearts with an unlikely three-point shot at the end of regulation. Chappell ended the night with 35 points, 12 rebounds and nine steals. “Madi has been a special player all four years and it was great to see her give that kind of a performance especially on senior night,” said Coach Greg Perkins.
Holbrook came into the game sitting atop the East Region standings with a 7-0 mark. The Lobos came in with two region losses, one of which was a two-point home loss to Holbrook a couple of weeks ago. Holbrook played well early, netting 20 first period points behind seven from Chappell and four each by Desirae Bain and Matehya Aberle. The Lobos countered with 15 points, four each from Trysten Hancock, Kamri Ballard and Macee Papa.
Holbrook pulled out to a double-digit lead in the second thanks to a last second three-point shot from Bain right before the half ended. Jineane Cummings added five in the period and Chappell finished with four more. Ballard and Papa both added four more to their totals in the stanza, which left Holbrook on top 36-25 at the half.
Snowflake is a very good team and they showed their mettle in the third quarter, trimming Holbrook’s lead to three points before the Birds finished the period with an eight point lead. Hancock netted six points in the third for Snowflake, while Chappell added five to her total for Holbrook.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Lobos, at least all but the final four seconds of it. Snowflake slowly wiped away Holbrook’s eight-point lead taking their first lead of the game at 51-50 late in the game. Ballard netted four, as did Emily Davis, and Hancock. Holbrook struggled with the Lobo press and Snowflake turned Holbrook’s miscues into quick points.
Madison Chappell kept Holbrook in the game with 10 points in the fourth quarter. Four of those 10 came in the final four seconds of the game.
With Snowflake leading 58-54, Chappell was fouled on a baseline drive. After she hit the first free throw, leaving the Birds trailing by three, Holbrook called time out. “With Snowflake being so fast and athletic I didn’t think we would be able to get a five second count to get the ball back, so we decided to miss the free throw and hope for a put back with a foul. Matehya was able to get a hand on it, then Talynn chased it down and got a pass out to Madison who drained a game tying three pointer as time expired sending the game to overtime tied at 58-58. The chances of everything working on that play are pretty slim. It didn’t work quite like we had talked about but we were fortunate enough to get the shot,” said Perkins.
Snowflake, who had played well all night long was never able to recover in overtime. Holbrook kept feeding the ball to Chappell who scored nine more points in overtime, seven at the free throw line as Holbrook pulled away for the 70-58 overtime win, which earned them the 3A East Region title for the fourth year in a row.
“Crazy ending to a great game by both teams. Joe has done such a good job with Snowflake. They are a dangerous team, which will go far in the state tournament. They are so athletic, and play so hard they will catch a lot of teams by surprise. The ball bounced our way tonight, but Snowflake certainly could have deserved the win as well. Yes, we went to the line often but once we saw they couldn’t stop Madison we went to the well over and over again.
“I have to thank the Holbrook crowd as well. The gym was packed and I don’t think in all these years I have ever heard it as loud as it was when Madi hit that three-point shot. The fans have been amazing in their support for these girls all of these years. Senior night is always tough emotionally, but a win like that makes it easier. All the girls and my staff did a great job in this win. Proud of everyone involved,” stated Perkins.
Along with Chappell’s 35 points, Aberle added 10; Bain, 7; Cummings, 7; Terry Nez, 5; Spencer, 4; and Alyssa Yazzie helped with 2. Holbrook made two three-point field goals and went 26 for 43 at the line.
Snowflake was paced by Ballard with 16l. Hancock added 1; Papa, 12; Davis, 6; Stratton, 3; and Flake added 2. The Lobos made one three-point field goal and went three for seven at the line.
After playing at Blue Ridge on Monday night the 21-6 Roadrunners will face Show Low at Mogollon on Thursday night. Snowflake, now 19-6, will face Show Low at Blue Ridge High School on Tuesday night, then will close out the regular season at home when they host Winslow on Friday night.
Both the Lady Lobos and the Lady Roadrunners will be in action in the 3A State tournament, which gets underway next Tuesday with both teams most likely hosting lower seeds on that night.
