Holbrook finished the season with a split in their final two games played last week. Playing in Whiteriver on Tuesday night in a quiet gym, as no fans, parents or any other spectators were allowed due to a physical altercation in the stands at a previous game. The game was live streamed, and the Roadrunners saw a 6-point lead evaporate in the final minute. The Falcons made a big comeback late, hitting a lay-up with less than a second left in the fourth quarter to win the game 54-52.
Holbrook trailed by 6 after the first, despite four from Chase Salabye and Travis Bia. In the second Tyler Tapaha netted 6, Jaron Becenti 5, and Salabye added four more to his total helping Holbrook build a 30-27 halftime lead.
That lead extended in the third, with Manny Rico’s 5-point quarter. Then in the final frame, the Falcons outscored Holbrook 15-6 to get the come-from-behind win.
Tapaha led the Birds with 15. Becenti had 11. Chase Salabye added 10, Travis Bia 6, Manny Rico 5, Caleb Cummings 3, and Leyton Tom helped with 2. Holbrook made 5 of 10 free throws and hit three treys.
Hosting Show Low on Wednesday night, the Roadrunners played better defensively in a 51-39 win over the Cougars. A quick first-quarter start led to an 18-14 lead. Becenti hit two triples, as did Cummings, giving Holbrook the early lead. In the second, they each added another from distance, giving Holbrook a 29-27 edge.
Holbrook’s defense won the game in the third quarter, where they shut out the Cougars. Offensively a 17-point output basically put the game out of reach. Tapaha netted 9 of the 17. Show Low trimmed 7 points off the lead in the fourth but the damage had been done.
Tapaha started slow but finished the game with a team-high 20 points. Becenti added 14; Cummings, 9; Rico, 5; Salabye, 3, and Tom added 1.
Holbrook will now host Payson in the 3A State Pool game on Friday night. With the new Copper Tournament or 1A-3A open division tournament in place for the first time this year, teams who didn’t qualify for the open now have to play in the pool play round. Holbrook finished the season ranked 13th and will host No. 22 Payson on Friday night. The Longhorns are just 7-11 in regular season games and went 3-9 in the 3A metro region.
If Holbrook can win this game, they will have to await Saturday’s bracket show to see where they will play in the 3A state tournament bracket. A loss from this point on will end the season for the Birds.
The first two rounds of the Copper Tournament will take place on Tuesday, and Thursday this week. The losers from the first two rounds will return to their respective state tournament brackets. Only the four remaining teams will not be able to play for a state title and will only compete for a Copper Tournament, or Open Division title.
Holbrook enters Friday’s pool play game with an overall record of 20-7. Tickets are only sold on GOFAN, and season pass holders and employees will not be allowed in without a GOFAN ticket, since this is an AIA state tournament game. The doors will open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. tip-off.
