Holbrook picked up their third straight regular season win on Tuesday night to start the new campaign 3-0 with a 62-31 win over visiting Ganado.
The game was basically decided in the first frame where the Birds outscored the Hornets 22-6. Six different Roadrunners scored in the opening quarter. The game was really out of reach by halftime. Jaden Kinlicheenie netted 5, and Amare Nelson hit for 4 pacing Holbrook to a 40-13 halftime margin.
With the game well in hand, Holbrook slowed their scoring with only 6 in the third and another 16 in the fourth. Caleb Cummings drained a pair of treys in the final stanza of Holbrook’s big win.
All 11 players dressed for Holbrook got into the scoring column. Cummings led all scorers for Holbrook with 15 points. Kinlicheenie added 9; Amare Nelson, 8; Chase Salabye, 6; Tapaha, 5; Manny Rico, 5; Travis Bia, 4; Jaron Becenti, 4; Leyton Tom, 2; Brady Becenti, 2; and Cameron Chevarillo netted 2.
Friday after Thanksgiving the team traveled to Chandler to play four games in the Ben Franklin Thanksgiving Classic. Their first opponent on Friday afternoon was Shadow Hills, Calif. Holbrook came up short by 10 points, 43-53. A slow start saw them trail 15-8 at the end of the first. Tapaha netted 10 in the second, but the team fell further behind at the half. Holbrook trailed by 15 heading into the fourth and managed to trim 5 points of Shadow Hills’ lead by the end of the game. Tapaha led Holbrook with 22 points. Jaden Becenti added 7.
Later Thursday evening, Holbrook faced the host team Benjamin Franklin. The Chargers hit nine treys in the game which they won comfortably 73-54. Holbrook was paced by Salabye’s 11-point effort. Travis Bia added 10, and Tyler Tapaha finished with 8.
Saturday morning, Holbrook faced Combs and again came up just a little short against the 4A Coyotes in a 65-55 loss. Holbrook kept pace through the first half trailing by just four. The fourth quarter was the decisive one. The Coyotes outscored Holbrook 14-9 to secure the win. Tapaha led Holbrook in scoring with 15 points. Salabye added 10, and Brady Becenti finished with 8.
Holbrook picked up their only win of the tournament on Saturday afternoon with a 54-36 win over Page. The Birds led 26-21 at the half, then outscored the Sand Devils 30-15 in the second half to get the win. Salabye led the Birds in scoring with 17 points. Tapaha added 14, and Rico netted 8.
Holbrook heads into this week’s action with an overall record of 4-3. They will travel to St. Johns on Tuesday in this week’s only game. Next Tuesday they play at Chinle on Tuesday night, then will compete in the Round Valley Tournament next Thursday through Saturday.
