After losing their first two games of the season the Lady Roadrunners have since put together a tidy seven-game winning streak thanks to a pair of victories over Show Low and Blue Ridge last week. That win streak plus their overall strength of schedule, which is the toughest in the state at the 3A level has placed them second in the AIA power rankings behind only once beaten Snowflake. Playing in Show Low on Tuesday the Lady Birds looked anything but a highly ranked team, thanks to a good defensive game strategy by the Cougars that limited Holbrook to just 13 points in the first half. Fortunately, Holbrook’s defense was tough as well holding Show Low to only seven points through the first 16 minutes of play. Holbrook’s third quarter changed the momentum quickly. The Roadrunners got six from Shan Footracer, and five each from Jineane Cummings and Abigayle Nez pacing them to a 20-point quarter. Their defense stayed on task holding the Cougars to just four in the quarter giving Holbrook a 33-11 lead going into the fourth. Mateyha Aberle came off the bench scoring six of Holbrook’s 10 points in the quarter, giving the Lady Roadrunners a 43-16 win. Terry Nez paced the team in scoring with 10, Footracer added 8, Matehya Aberle hit for 6; Terry Nez had 5; Talynn Spencer, 5; Cummings, 5; Abigail Nez, 2; and Makani Tsipai helped with 2. Holbrook struggled mightily from the field but eventually made five three-point field goals and went five for nine at the free throw line. The Cougars were led by Kyra Brogan with 5 points. Show Low went two for five at the free throw line and did not make a three-point field goal. “Show Low did a good job defensively on Matehya inside. She has drawn double and sometime triple teams from everyone we have played thus far and our outside shooting needs to pick up the slack when that happens. Through the first half we got a little hesitant to shoot and it showed in the halftime score. Terry Nez may have played her best game of the year thus far and really kept us in the game,” stated Roadrunner Coach Greg Perkins. Hosting Blue Ridge on Friday night Holbrook fared better, but still didn’t play like a top-level team. Credit some of that to a much-improved Blue Ridge squad who came in and played hard. Holbrook led 14-6 at the end of the first thanks to nine points from Cummings. In the second Mika Joe hit for 5, and Footracer came through with 4 giving Holbrook a 27-16 half time lead. Sitting most of the first half with foul trouble Matehya Aberle made up for it in the second half. She scored all of Holbrook’s 13 points in the third period, then added another eight in the fourth. Abigail Benally hit from distance and Terry Nez connected on back-to-back three-pointers helping Holbrook pull away for the 59-40 home court win. Mateyha Aberle led all scorers with 24 and in the process scored her 1,000th career point as a Lady Roadrunner. “A lot of hard work, and some very good teammates giving her all those assists over her past four years have helped her reach that mark. She may be the most driven player I have had in all these years to improve herself and it shows. It has been a pleasure coaching her. I look forward to her future with us as well as her playing at the next level next year,” stated Perkins. Along with Mateyha Aberle’s 24, Cummings added 11; Terry Nez, 8; Joe, 5; Footracer, 4; Benally, 3; Spencer, 2; and Noheah Aberle finished with 2. Holbrook made five three-point field goals and went 12 for 15 at the line. Blue Ridge was led by Valida Carrol with 13 points. The Jackets made 3 of 11 free throws and hit six three-point field goals. With the two wins Holbrook improved to 7-2 on the season. After hosting top ranked Snowflake on Tuesday, Holbrook will travel to Round Valley on Wednesday then make the trip to Payson on Friday. Next Tuesday the Roadrunners play host to rival Winslow.