Holbrook’s Lady Roadrunners promising season came to a crashing halt on Friday night in Window Rock, where the fifth seeded team fell to No. 12 Monument Valley by a final of 59-49. Holbrook just couldn’t find the mark from the field enough times to make the game come out in their favor. The team did make nine three-point field goals, but took 39 attempts to get that number. Inside the paint Holbrook struggled mightily making just nine of 23 layups. Monument Valley also made nine treys, but shot a much higher percentage than Holbrook. The Mustangs also had more turnovers, but did make 19 more trips to the free throw line throughout the contest. Holbrook’s cold shooting showed up in the first and third periods, where they netted just three points in each. Tyler Pacheco nailed a three-point shot on Holbrook’s first possession of the game but that was it for the quarter. The Mustangs ran off 19 straight points to finish the period on top 19-3. “We got open looks, just couldn’t make them,” said Coach Greg Perkins. In the second, Holbrook finally broke through using their trapping defense they managed to fight back and tie the game at 22-22 before going to the half down four at 26-22. “I thought once we started making some shots we would be ok. Tyanna came off the bench in the second and hit three three-point shots and our defense forced several turnovers,” said Perkins. All the momentum they gained in the second period was washed away by another cold shooting period in the third. Again just one three-point field goal was all the Birds could manage and they went to the fourth trailing 41-25. “The girls played hard, we just couldn’t find the range. Monument is a good team but if you don’t score more than three points in any quarter, I don’t care who you are playing, in the state tournament you are going to lose. We scored six total points in two quarters and our season ended because of it. Have to give credit to the Mustangs. They made their outside shots and we didn’t, which was really the difference in the game.” Holbrook rallied again in the fourth cutting the lead to five points, but that was as close as they would get. Monument Valley advanced to the elite eight round where they will have faced Valley Christian on Monday. Holbrook’s season comes to a close with an overall record of 24-7, but well short of their team goal. Tyler Pacheco led the team in scoring with 10 points. Tyanna Johnson added 9; Elena Smith, 8; Dakota Dick, 7; Rayanna Wauneka, 4; Madison Chappell, 4; Tristen Ambrose, 3; Twyla Clark, 2; and Megan Cummings netted 2. Holbrook made nine three-point field goals, and went four for five at the free throw line. Monument Valley also made nine three-point shots and went nine for 24 at the charity stripe. Coach Perkins concluded, “Disappointment really describes the outcome. I have coached this program for 10 years now and this was collectively the best team we have had in those 10 seasons. This team had a goal, and rightfully so, to win it all. We just had a tough shooting night at the wrong time. Monument outplayed us in certain areas no question but if we shoot our normal season percentage we win that game. I really feel bad for our six seniors, Dakota Dick, Elena Smith, Tyler Pacheco, Rayanna Wauneka, Twyla Clark and Tyanna Johnson. They gave a lot to this program during their time here. All the hours in the gym, all the hours, and miles back and forth to practice, all the sacrifices they and their families have made to play at Holbrook, they deserved to have a better finish to what has been a great season. They are incredible young ladies and they have given so much to this program. I am truly sorry I couldn’t get them to their goal. “Now the returning players need to get back in the gym and get back to work, after we recharge the batteries, in a couple of weeks. This is a solid program and while we will certainly be rebuilding we have several key pieces in place to have a strong team again next season. I want to thank my assistant coaches Frank Stacey and Shantina Kinlicheenie, for all their hard work during the season with our younger players. I also want to thank those parents who support our program and give so much of their time and money to have their daughters play for us. Also I have to thank my lovely wife Kerry, who is the biggest team supporter of them all.”
