Holbrook’s boys team returned to action after a two-week holiday break and split their first two games last week. Hosting Round Valley on Thursday, the Roadrunners used eight first-period points from Brandon Tapaha to stay in front of the Elks by one. Holbrook opened the game up in the second period. Seven from Quentin Thomas, six from Noah Brown, and four from Sam Francisco helped them build a 39-22 halftime lead. Holbrook cruised to the 68-49 final margin win in the second half.
Brown led in scoring with 17, Thomas added 13, as did Francisco. Brandon Tapaha had 12; Tyler Tapaha, 8; Izzy Ramos, 4; and Kyle Smith added a single point in the win.
The fourth-rated Roadrunners traveled to Chandler on Saturday to take on the top-ranked Valley Christian Trojans in what was anticipated to be a big game. Holbrook fans travel very well and they helped pack the small Trojan gym in what provided a great atmosphere for a matchup of a pair of top-five teams. Unfortunately for the Holbrook fans who showed up, they witnessed a much taller and highly talented team hand Holbrook an 81-50 loss.
Holbrook kept pace in the first trailing by just five. They were still in the game at the half trailing 33-22. The third period was the final turning point where Valley Christian outscored Holbrook by six then in the fourth they kept their foot on the gas outscoring the Birds 26-12 over the final eight minutes in the big win.
Valley Christian’s star player Luke Shaw smoked the nets for 32 points and he along with his teammates drained 10 treys in the win.
Holbrook played hard and finished with six three-point field goals, which is far below their usual average. Brandon Tapaha led the Birds with 13, Brown added 12; Thomas, 10; Tyler Tapaha, 8; Jaden Kinlecheenie, 5; and Francisco added two in the loss.
Despite the loss, Holbrook shouldn’t drop that far in the rankings this week. They are 14-3, overall and now 6-1 in regular season games. Holbrook will host seventh ranked Blue Ridge on Tuesday night. The Jackets have played just four games but are unbeaten in those regular season matchups. On Friday night the Birds will travel to Show Low to meet up with the 19th ranked Cougars. Next Thursday Holbrook travels to Winslow.
