Holbrook’s boys team dropped to the 12th overall seed for the upcoming 3A state tournament thanks in part to losses in their final two regular season games. Holbrook fell 76-72 in a high scoring back and forth contest in Blue Ridge on Tuesday of last week, then dropped a 65-49 game to Show Low played in Mogollon on Friday night in the regular season finale.
Holbrook was playing without Kobi Koerperich, but in the first period junior guard Anthony Nelson picked up the slack, netting 11 points through the first eight minutes helping Holbrook open up a six point lead. Show Low countered in the second tying the game at 28-28 at the half.
In the third, Holbrook went cold, netting just nine points in the frame falling behind by double-digits heading to the fourth. Show Low increased their lead over the final eight minutes getting the win and setting up the rematch in Holbrook on Wednesday night.
Eric Baldonado led Holbrook in scoring with 20 points. Nelson added 16; Damien Clark, 4; Brandon Tapaha, 4; Ethan Begay, 3; and Quentin Thomas and Nick Begay helped with one each. Holbrook made six of 16 free throws and drained nine three-point field goals.
Show Low was led by Colton McGinnis with 21 and Miguel Belarmino added 16. The Cougars made 10 of 16 charity tosses and hit three long range field goals.
The Roadrunners wrapped up the regular season with an overall record of 19-10. They were 12-7 in power point contests and went 6-4 in east region play finishing in a tie for third and fourth with Snowflake.
Those two losses have put Holbrook in a position where now as the 12th overall seed they will see a familiar face on Wednesday night when they host No. 21 Show Low, the same Cougar team that defeated them on Friday. Hopefully Holbrook can be close to full strength for that game if senior guard Koerperich can return from an ankle sprain he suffered late in the game at Blue Ridge on Tuesday.
If the Roadrunners can get past the Cougars on Wednesday, they would travel to Tucson to face No. 5 Sabino on Saturday. The Sabercats compiled a 16-2 regular season mark and they have just three overall season losses and 23 wins.
If the Roadrunners could upset Sabino they would most likely see No. 4 Paradise Honors on Tuesday in Prescott.
Holbrook is joined by four other east region members in the state bracket. Along with No. 21 Show Low that plays Holbrook on Wednesday night, No. 13 Blue Ridge will host No. 20 Tuba City on Wednesday. No. 8 Snowflake and No. 6 Winslow both get first round byes and won’t play until the second round on Saturday.
