Holbrook hosted Chinle in their home opener on Tuesday last week. The Wildcats and the Roadrunners put together a back-and-forth game much to the delight of the near capacity crowd.
Chinle got off to a hot start behind four 3-point field goals from Jostaiah Harvey in the first eight minutes. Shay Burbank added a fifth from distance and the Wildcats led 16-12 heading into the second. Tyler Tapaha scored all but three of Holbrook’s 12 points in the first, keeping his team close.
Chinle extended their edge in the second, outscoring Holbrook 13-10 in the frame. Five different players had one field goal for the Birds. The Wildcats got six more from Harvey and led 29-22 at the half.
Holbrook began to chip away at that lead in the third. With Xavier Brown draining treys from the outside and Tapaha going to work in the paint, Holbrook chiseled the Wildcat lead to just two points heading into the fourth. In the final quarter Tapaha netted 12 of his game high 29 points, and Brown hit his fourth and fifth 3-point field goals, lifting Holbrook to a 59-57 home court win.
Chinle missed six free throws in the final quarter, while Tapaha made good on four of his five charity attempts down the stretch.
Holbrook was paced by the junior Tapaha’s 29-point effort. Classmate Xavier Brown added 18 with all but three of those coming from behind the arc. Jaron Becenti added 6, Manuel Rico had 2 and Joquin Belin helped with 2.
Holbrook is now 3-3 on the season. After hosting Ganado on Tuesday, they will play in the Round Valley Roundball Tournament beginning with pool games vs Fort Thomas and Pima on Thursday. They will open bracket play on Friday morning vs St. Michaels. Monday following the tournament the Roadrunners will host Tuba City.
