Holbrook finally was able to get on the court on Saturday night for the first time this season, but the end result wasn’t what they were hoping for. Playing in St. Johns the Lady Birds went scoreless over the final two minutes of the game giving up a five-point lead in the final minutes before eventually taking a 53-49 road loss. Holbrook struggled from the field throughout the night, which was really evident in the first period where they managed just six points, all from standout senior post player Matehya Aberle. St. Johns’ Olivia Wiltbank matched that total but she got additional help from her teammates giving the Redskins an 11-6 first period lead. In the second, Jineane Cummings netted five and Aberle tacked on another six as Holbrook trimmed St. Johns’ lead to three points before the break. Holbrook battled back in the third tying the game at 34-34 with eight minutes left to play. In the fourth, Shan Footracer, Cummings and Aberle helped push Holbrook out to a five-point lead, but that lead vanished down the stretch. St. Johns’ Liberty Raban hit the game winning three-point shot with just over a minute left in the game, putting Holbrook in a three-point deficit they were unable to get out of. Aberle led all scorers with 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Cummings did her part with 10 points. Footracer added 4, Sam Billie 3, Talynn Spencer, Alyssa Yazzie, Terry Nez, and Makani Tsipai each scored 2 points in the loss. Holbrook made just three treys and went 12 for 19 at the line. St. Johns was led by Joann Wall with 14 points. Olivia Wiltbank added 12, and Kinley Crosby helped with 8. The Redskins made one big three-point field goal, and connected on 16 of their 24 free throw attempts. “Certainly not the way we wanted to start the season but we were outhustled, outexecuted and outplayed by St. Johns. I know we are not in any kind of shape right now and I think that really had an impact on our game. We shot just 11 percent from three-point range and they really hurt us on the boards. We have a lot of room to improve, just not much time to get it done. But I have faith in these girls and we will get things figured out,” stated Roadrunner Coach Greg Perkins. Weather permitting Holbrook will have played in Blue Ridge on Tuesday night. They will travel to Snowflake on Thursday for a match up with the high flying and unbeaten Lady Lobos. Things get no easier when 4A Flagstaff visits Holbrook on Saturday. Next Tuesday Holbrook will welcome in Payson.
