The Lady Roadrunners went 2-1 in their first week of action in the new year. Holbrook picked up easy wins over St. Johns and Blue Ridge during the week, then dropped the first power point game of the season to rival Winslow at home on Saturday night. Playing a make up game at St. Johns on Wednesday, Holbrook jumped out early behind a strong first quarter from Heather Dudley, who got her first start of the season. Dudley’s eight first period points paced Holbrook to a 20-6 advantage over the Lady Redskins. Kellin Bakurza’s two three-point shots helped to keep Holbrook on top 35-21 at the half. In the second half the Lady Birds amped up their defense, holding St. Johns to only eight second half points to win the game 62-29. Eleven Lady Roadrunners scored in the game, led by Dudley with 10 points. Shandie Demuth added 8, Bakurza, 7, Tamisha Yazzie, Aaren LaRose, Shantina Kinlicheenie and Samantha Smith, 6 each, Col’Bi Nez, 5, Jessica Paz, 4, and Starla Smith and Summer Charley, 2 each. “We played a solid defensive game for the first time in a while. To hold a good team like St. Johns to eight points in a half means we were doing some good things with our half-court defense,” said Coach Greg Perkins. “Heather showed that when she plays strong inside she will be able to help our team in the tough weeks ahead.” Holbrook 20 15 12 15 62 St. Johns 6 15 6 2 29 Hosting Blue Ridge in just their second home game of the season, the Lady Birds wasted little time in gaining the upper hand, limiting the visitors to just a single point in the opening period. Holbrook led 33-10 at the half and went on to win the game 60-28. “We started well again, with Shantina scoring six quick points for us inside. It was good to see Aaren hit some three-point shots, which we will really need the rest of the month with our difficult schedule,” said Coach Perkins. “Right now I am carrying 15 players on the roster, and in games like this it gives us a chance for everyone to get playing time. In what I anticipate will be some close games ahead, we may not get that luxury, but the bench players need to be ready when called upon.” LaRose and Dudley led the team in scoring with 11 points each. Kinlicheenie added 10, Bakurza, 7, Paz, 6, Samantha Smith, 4, Brittany Baldwin and Nez, 3 each, Kenalda Quintero and Demuth, 2 each, and Eriene Haskie, 1. Blue Ridge 1 9 14 4 28 Holbrook 18 15 16 11 60 On Saturday rival Winslow came to town with just two losses on the season. Playing in front of a sold out crowd, both teams played hard defense throughout the contest, which was eventually won by the Lady Bulldogs, 46-38. Heather Dudley netted six quick points for Holbrook, helping the Lady Birds keep pace in the first. In the second they picked up three each from Starla Smith and Kinlicheenie to pull within three of the Lady Bulldogs at the half. Winslow extended that lead to eight in the third period, then the teams matched each other with a dozen points in the final stanza. Holbrook was led by Starla Smith with 9 points. Dudley added 8, Kinlicheenie, 7, Paz, 4, LaRose, Bakurza and Nez, 3 each, and Demuth, 1. “They turned us over a couple of times early in the game with their pressure, and it seemed like we spent the rest of the night trying to get back into some kind of offensive flow,” said Coach Perkins. “Give them credit; they did a great job of pressuring our ball handlers and keeping us from getting into our offense. Despite struggling against their defense for most of the game, we still were within three points late in the game, which is a credit to our defensive effort. “We turned the ball over too many times and did a poor job of keeping them off the offensive boards. Combine that with poor shooting and it usually means a loss when you play quality teams. Had we shot the ball a little better from the outside we may have been able to pull ahead, despite being outplayed for most of the game. This was the best environment for a game we have been in so far this season, and I know we have several games with crowds like this just ahead of us, so, hopefully, this will prepare us for what is to come. “I thought Starla Smith really stepped up and played well in this game. She has shown the ability to give us a spark off the bench and is looking to get more playing time.” Winslow 13 6 15 12 46 Holbrook 8 8 10 12 38 Heading into Tuesday’s home game with Joseph City, the Lady Roadrunners had a mark of 14-6 on the season. They face the tough task of traveling to Window Rock on Thursday, Jan. 12, then getting back on the road to play at Valley Sanders the next night. Those two teams have combined for just two power point losses all season, and both beat Holbrook in tournament action prior to the Christmas break.