By Greg Perkins Holbrook’s Roadrunners survived a slow first period, then rallied from a two-point halftime deficit to send Poston Butte home for the season with a 57-45 loss in the first round of the state basketball tournament. Elliot Pete played well early on for the Birds, who struggled from three-point range in the first eight minutes. Pete’s four points totaled half the Holbrook output as the Roadrunners trailed 16-8 heading to the second. Pete added two more field goals in the second and Rhett Desiderio canned a three-pointer as the Birds began to turn the momentum in their favor. The third period was the final turning point. Holbrook’s defense clamped down and held the Broncos to just a six-point output. Offensively, Hayden Kinlichee nailed two huge three-point shots and Miireux Begaii also netted six points, helping the 12th seeded Roadrunners overtake the visitors. In the fourth, Holbrook made eight of 12 free throws to cinch the win. Begaii led the Roadrunners in scoring with 16 points. Nathan Johnson and Benson Davis added 9 each. Pete scored 8 points, all in the first half. Abrian Dickson was held well below his season average, finishing with 6 points. Kinlichee also scored 6. Desiderio had one trey to his credit. At the free throw line, Holbrook made 13 of 19 attempts. The Birds made four three-point shots. Poston Butte was led by Qujum Steward with 13. Preston Anderson added 12, and Tyson Beringer, 10. Holbrook moves on to face fifth seeded Mingus at 7:30 tonight (Feb. 19) at Chino Valley High School. Mingus (21-7) earned a first round bye and comes into the state tournament having won 11 of its last 12 games. If the Roadrunners, now 23-9, can advance with a win, they would face either No. 4 Winslow or No. 13 Dysart at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, in Glendale.