The Lady Roadrunners opened the season on a positive note on Friday night with an impressive 62-29 home court win over Window Rock. Holbrook’s young team jumped out to an early 7-0 lead then led 16-8 at the end of the first. Bailey Williams dropped 8 points in the first frame. Deya Guerrero and Lanaya Tsosie each scored 3. In the second, freshman guard Jordan Claw nailed back-to-back treys and Guerrero hit her second from distance in the half, giving the Birds a 25-17 halftime edge.
In the third, Guerrero added her third triple, and Shayla Attakai also found the net from distance, helping Holbrook extend their margin to a comfortable 41-25 lead. Alayna Yazzie netted 8 in the fourth quarter all off steals. Sophomores Bailey Williams and Angelica Uranga combined to score 11 in the 62-29 final outcome.
Holbrook was led by Bailey Williams’ 14 points. Guerrero added 13; Yazzie, 10; Claw, 8; Uranga, 7; Lanaya Tsosie, 3; Attakai, 3; Channing Harrington, 2; and KC Tsosie helped with 2. Holbrook made six shots from distance and shot well at the line, making 12 of 13 attempts.
Window Rock was held without a 3-point field goal and made three of their 11 free throws.
“We started great. We have a new mindset this season that we want to pressure the ball a lot more than we have in the past. We are small but are fairly quick and the girls like to play a little scrappy defensively. I felt the team had great energy from the start and really carried it all the way through. Alayna was exceptional on defense and the young ones showed they can play as well. Bailey, and Deya both gave us an offensive punch,” stated Coach Greg Perkins.
Saturday night Holbrook welcomed in Tuba City and through three quarters they held a 3-point lead. In the fourth, a tough Lady Warrior team finally ran Holbrook down, handing the Lady Birds a 54-45 loss.
“First, give Tuba all the credit. They played well enough to get the win. We knew what they did, we just couldn’t get stops down the fourth when we needed them. I know our legs ran out in the fourth quarter. We used a lot of energy on Friday night and the girls hit the wall in the fourth. Strategically we should have pushed the ball inside more in the fourth, but we didn’t and, now know how to improve going forward. Looking back if someone would have said would you like to be 1-1 over the first weekend I would have said definitely and now we are so I look forward to what this team can do next. They seem to be a great bunch of girls,” stated Perkins.
Guerrero netted eight in the first with two treys. Lanaya Tsosie, and Uranga each had four in the second. In the third, freshman guard Harrington showed glimpses of what she can do with an 8-point quarter. Holbrook led 28 to 27 at the half, and 40-37 through three quarters. In the fourth, they were outscored 17-5 and couldn’t get any outside shots to fall.
Guerrero and Harrington each netted 13. Lanaya Tsosie added 5; Claw, 4; Bailey Williams, 4; Uranga, 4; and Alayna Yazzie helped with 2. Holbrook made six treys and went seven for 10 at the charity stripe.
Tuba City made one 3-point field goal and went nine for 12 at the line.
Holbrook will host Ganado on Tuesday night in their final home game until January. The team will be on the road the entire month of December. Next Tuesday they will travel to face St. Johns.
