The Roadrunners took an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter at home last Tuesday night against rival Winslow, but playing without their starting point guard due to an injury midway through the final period they were unable to maintain it. Winslow fought back late in the game and came away with an exciting 60-58 win in front of another packed house at Muñoz Gym.
Holbrook played very well in the first stanza, building a double-digit lead behind nine points from Korey McReeves. Hayden Kinlichee and Tynen Thomas each connected from deep range to help the advantage grow. Elliot Pete netted five of Holbrook’s 12 second period points and the halftime margin was 31-19.
Winslow’s Rory Billie sparked a third period run for the Bulldogs with six of his game high 23 points, offsetting seven in the period by Pete. Playing with the lead in the fourth period, Holbrook had a couple of critical turnovers late in the final minute. A couple of big offensive rebounds and put backs by the Bulldogs also helped them gain the lead. Holbrook had one final chance, but a turnover on an errant pass gave the ball back to Winslow with just a couple of seconds left.
Holbrook was led by McReeves wih 17 points. Pete added 16; Kinlichee, 15; Thomas, 5; Jayden Johns, 3, and Damian Begay, 1.
The Roadrunners hit nine three-point shots and went 9 for 11 at the line.
Winslow was paced by Billie’s 23-point effort. Pete Dalgai added 11; Darius James, 8; Ricardo Villanueva and Jalen Tapaha, 7 each; and Cedric Benally and Avondrae Yellowhair, 2 each.
The Bulldogs made three treys and went 7 for 12 at the line.
Holbrook began the week on Monday with a game against Blue Ridge in Lakeside. The Birds battled tough in that outing, coming from behind after a halftime deficit to take a two-point lead during the third period. In the fourth both teams racked up the points, with Holbrook netting 27, but the Birds gave up a 30-point quarter to the Yellowjackets, who went on to win the game 80-68.
McReeves led the offense with 19 points. Kinlichee added 15; Thomas, Pete and Johns, 9 each; and Lane Goldtooth and Jared Woody, 5 each.
Holbrook connected on 10 three-point shots and went 8 for 12 at the charity stripe.
With the back-to-back region losses, Holbrook fell to 8-13 overall and was 4-11 in power point games.
