The Roadrunners have started the season in a promising fashion with two road wins last week. On Tuesday, Holbrook demolished an overmatched Falcon team in Alchesay, then Saturday night in Chinle they escaped the Wildcat Den with a two-point win.
Playing in Whiteriver on Tuesday, Holbrook had to withstand a fired-up Falcon team that was playing on their home floor for the first time in two years. With their third crowd backing them, the Falcons poured in 17 first period points on offense. Their problem was defense where they allowed Holbrook to score 23 points led by Caden Tom’s seven-point period. In the second, the roof caved in on the home team. Holbrook exploded for 39 points in eight minutes taking a commanding 62-21 half time lead.
Quentin Thomas netted 13 of the 39 in the second. Noah Brown dropped 10, and Brandon Tapaha added 9. Holbrook cruised to the 81-34 road win. Brandon Tapaha led the team in scoring with 20 points. Noah Brown added 15; Quentin Thomas, 17; Nick Begay, 10; Caden Tom, 9; Tyler Tapaha, 5; and Kyle Smith added 2.
Saturday night the Birds were in Chinle for a much tougher test, especially playing without Thomas who was out with a minor injury.
Chinle built a five-point lead at the close of the first and still held a 33-31 lead at the half. In the third, Holbrook overtook the Wildcats and lead by one going into the fourth. In the final period the Roadrunners went up by as much as five points then made critical free throws down the stretch to lead by five in the waning seconds. Chinle made a three at the buzzer to make it a two-point 57-55 Holbrook win.
Brandon Tyler played well and lead the team in scoring with 21 points. Tyler Tapaha added 12 as did Noah Brown. Nick Begay finished with 10 and Caden Tom added two.
Holbrook will have put their 2-0 mark on the line on Tuesday night at home when they hosted Ganado. On Thursday the Roadrunners will be in the Round Valley Roundball Shootout. Holbrook faces St. Johns and Leading Edge on Thursday, then will open bracket play vs Cibeque on Friday morning.
