Holbrook’s region tournament opening win last Tuesday night over Snowflake led to a semifinal match-up with Blue Ridge and its high powered offense in Lakeside two nights later.

Both teams scored well early, with the Jackets holding a slim 18-17 edge over the Roadrunners. In the second Blue Ridge put up 21 points and held the Birds to just 12, with half of those coming from Elliot Pete. Holbrook, playing without playmaker Korey McReeves due to illness, trailed by just nine at the break, but in the third Blue Ridge scorched the nets for 26 points, putting the Roadrunners in a double-digit hole going to the fourth. Tynen Thomas did his best to keep Holbrook in the game in the third by scoring eight points, including two treys. In the final period Holbrook netted just 12 before losing the game 80-61.

Pete led the Holbrook offense with 16 points. Thomas added 11; Jared Woody, 8; Hayden Kinlichee, 6; Jayden Johns, 5; J.E. Cummings, Lane Goldtooth and Damian Begay, 4 each; and Tyrell Nelson, 3.

Holbrook made 1 of only two free throw attempts and connected on eight three-point field goals.

Blue Ridge also nailed eight treys and went 6 for 8 at the line. Three Yellowjackets scored more than 20 points each in the win.

That loss dropped Holbrook into the third and fourth place game vs. the Bulldogs last Friday night in Winslow.

Though McReeves was still out, Holbrook played well early, but trailed by four at the end of the first. Winslow doubled up the Birds in the second period to lead 41-26 at the half.

The Bulldogs went on to outscore Holbrook in both the third and fourth periods, claiming third place with a 72-49 win.

Holbrook was led by Pete with 11. Kinlichee added 9; Terrence Kelley, 8; Josiah Freddie, 4; Woody, Begay and Cummings, 3 each; and Jaren Jackson, Goldtooth and Thomas, 2 each.

Holbrook made 10 of 16 free throws and hit five three-point shots.

The Bulldogs were paced by Ricardo Villanueva with 16. They hit 10 of 12 charity tosses and connected on six treys.

Holbrook begins play in the 3A state tournament at 6:30 tonight (Feb. 15) as the 18th seed, and will travel to Chinle to face the 15th seeded Wildcats and former Coach Raul Mendoza. The Roadrunners split their two meetings with Chinle this year, winning in Holbrook, but falling at the Den. If Holbrook can get past the Cats, they would advance to a match-up with No. 2 overall seed Blue Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 18, at a neutral site.

The Roadrunners head to the state tournament with an overall season mark of 11-16.