The Holbrook Roadrunners returned to the court after nearly three weeks last Friday night when they hosted Show Low. The long layoff wasn’t kind to the Birds’ offensive efforts with just two made field goals in the first half and the home team trailed 16-6 at the break.
In the third period they scored better, but so did the Cougars. The fourth quarter had just one Roadrunner find the scoring column. Terrence Kelly scored all eight of his points in the final stanza, but Birds’ shooting woes throughout the game kept them on the wrong side of a 40-23 final outcome.
Kelly led Holbrook in scoring with his 8 points. Korey McReeves added 6; Jayden Johns, 3; and Elliot Pete, Josiah Freddie and Jaren Jackson, 2 each.
Show Low was led by Rhett Ricedorff with 16 points.
A 57-34 loss to the Page Sand Devils on Saturday left the Roadrunners with plenty to think about on the long bus ride home.
The Birds again struggled to score early, finishing the first period with just three points. In the second, Pete and McReeves combined for nine points, but the home team led 23-12 at the break.
The third period put the game out of reach. Page made all eight of its free throws in the quarter and netted 22 total points while holding Holbrook to just nine. Pete scored six points in the final quarter for Holbrook in just his second game of the season, but it was too little, too late.
Pete finished the game as the leading scorer for the Birds with 15 points. Hayden Kinlichee and McReeves added 5 each. Tynen Thomas nailed one three-point shot. Damian Begay, Jared Woody and Kelly scored 2 each.
With the two losses the Roadrunners fell to 5-7 on the season. They entered this week ranked 26th in power points and will need to climb back into the top 24 in the coming weeks to ensure a state tournament trip. They were slated to host Snowflake on Tuesday. On Thursday, Jan. 12, they travel to Winslow with games slated at 3, 4:30 and 6 p.m. for the varsity boys. On Saturday, Jan. 14, the Birds welcome in Valley Christian with games scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
