Second-ranked Holbrook pushed their record to 17-5 following Tuesday night’s 54-41 win over Payson. However, Thursday night saw them fall to Winslow in the first of two meetings this year.
Tuesday’s game could have gone either way. With Tyler Tapah netting just 4 points, well off his normal average, the Longhorns found themselves trailing by just 1 point heading into the final eight minutes.
Xavier Brown stepped up for Holbrook and picked up the scoring slack. The junior sharpshooter drilled three triples in the fourth and added a pair of free throws. Caleb Cummings also hit 2 from distance, helping Holbrook pull away to get the 13-point win.
Both teams scored 14 in the first and Holbrook built a 30-19 lead at the break after a strong second period in which five players scored. In the third, Payson flipped the script making it a 1-point game going into the fourth.
Brown led Holbrook in scoring with 17 points. Caleb Cummings added 12; Jaron Becenti, 8; Jayden Kinlecheenie, 6; Chase Salabye, 6; Tyler Tapaha, 4; and Leyton Tom chipped in a single point. Holbrook made 12 3-point field goals and went four of nine at the free-throw line. Payson was led by Dom Stuerzer with 13 points. They made just two three-pointers and hit three of their five charity tosses.
Playing in front of a near-capacity crowd on Thursday night, the Roadrunners and Bulldogs both started well with the first period ending in a 16-16 tie. Tapaha led Holbrook with 8 points, and Tyren Puhuhefvaya netted 9 for the Dawgs.
In the second Issa David netted eight as Winslow edged in front 30-27 at the half. Winslow extended their lead in the third behind another ten from Puhuhefvaya along with six from Lythel Baker. Holbrook got eight from Brown in the third.
Tyler Tapaha put in 11 in the fourth and Brown had two more treys, but Winslow had too much-balanced scoring as they pulled away for the 73-62 win.
Tyler Tapaha led Holbrook in scoring with 24 points. Brown added 23 with all but two of those coming from behind the arc. Chase Salabye added 7, Jayden Kinlecheenie 5, and Jaron Becenti hit one three-point field goal.
Winslow was led by Tyren Puhuhefvaya with a game-high 25-point effort. David added 14; Baker, 13; Anthony Torres, 7; Kasey Monroe, 7; Talan Henling, 3; Talan Dick, 2; and Izaak Panana helped with 2.
Winslow made six treys and went five for six at the line. Holbrook netted 11 treys and went seven for seven at the line.
Holbrook will travel to Snowflake on Tuesday. They will play at Round Valley on Thursday, then will host Blue Ridge on Saturday. Next Tuesday they play at Show Low. Holbrook is 17-6 overall.
