The Roadrunners of Holbrook entered the North Region Basketball Tournament as the top seed in the field, but a first round upset loss to Monument Valley kept them from claiming the tournament title.

Holbrook started well with Jalen Jackson attacking the basket in the first, scoring 10 of his 22 in the first eight minutes.

In the second half the Mustangs made a run and cut the lead to just two points with less than a minute left. Running all but six seconds off the clock, Monument Valley hit a late bucket and was fouled converting the three-point play to give the Mustangs a two-point lead. Holbrook moved the ball to the top of the key, but was unable to hit a game winning three, leaving the Roadrunners on the wrong side of a 58-56 final score.

Jackson led the team with 22 points. Kory Koerperich added 13, Torrian Epps, 7, Bryson Keoni, Ilacian Johnson and Ryan Baldonado, 4 each, and Joey Aguilera, 2.

MV 10 13 18 17 58

Holbrook 16 12 14 14 56

Playing for third place on Saturday afternoon, the Roadrunners faced Window Rock in what many thought would be the championship matchup. The Scouts had fallen to Winslow on a last second shot in Friday’s semifinal game.

Holbrook looked sluggish early in the game as Window Rock held a seven-point first quarter lead. By halftime the Scouts pushed that cushion to nine points.

In the third period Holbrook’s second unit brought the team back and by the end of the quarter Holbrook turned a nine-point deficit into a seven-point lead. In the fourth Holbrook made seven of 10 free throws to seal the 67-54 win and claim third place.

Jackson led the team with 18 points. Koerperich and Rashaun Baldwin each added 12, Johnson, 10, Keoni, 5, Epps and Aguilera, 4 each, and Blake Maestas, 2.

WR 20 16 7 11 54

Holbrook 13 14 23 17 67

Despite finishing third at the region tournament, the Roadrunners are still the overall No. 1 seed in the state tournament. They will host 16th seeded Sedona Red Rock at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19, in the first round of the tournament. With a win the Birds will see either Safford or Snowflake in second round action, which will be played on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott.

Four North Region boys’ team made the final 16-team field. The East Region has five teams, while the West has just three and the South has four.