The last time Holbrook and Snowflake met, the game came down to a blocked shot at the buzzer, preserving a one-point Roadrunner win. Last Friday night, the Lobos took the early lead and made sure it didn’t come down to one shot as they upset the top ranked team at Muñoz Gym 67-59 in front of a packed and frenzied crowd.
Bryson Keoni and Torrian Epps combined for nine points in the first eight minutes, which helped to offset six each by Snowflake’s Chase Walden and Jake Shumway. In the second Snowflake got balanced scoring from seven different players, helping the Lobos stake a nine-point halftime lead. Jalen Jackson found some life in the third, scoring eight of his 14 points for Holbrook, but the Lobos didn’t give up any ground and headed to the fourth with that nine-point cushion intact.
In the final quarter, Dakota Lester hit two bombs from the deep corner and Epps scored six, but the Lobos kept attacking on the offensive end and came away with the upset win.
Keoni led Holbrook with 17 points. Jackson added 14 and Epps netted 12, both well below their season averages. Lester counted for 6, Sheldon Silversmith added 5, Rashaun Baldwin, 3, and Seth Hadley, 2. Holbrook made two three-point shots and went seven for 14 at the line.
Snowflake was led by Walden with 21. Reggie Peterson added 12, Jake Shumway, 10; Tanner Yellowhair, 8; Dallin Merrell, 6; Rick Shumway and Dustin Baldwin, 4 each; and Braccin Tanner, 2. The Lobos also made two three-point shots and converted 17 of 24 free throws.
Snowflake 16 19 15 17 67
Holbrook 15 11 15 18 59
On Saturday Holbrook made the short trip to Joseph City, where the Roadrunners jumped out early, ending the first period on top 18-6. Epps counted for eight of those 18 points. In the second, Joseph City battled back behind a strong effort from Jacob Fields, who netted eight of his game high 23 in the quarter.
Leading by six at the half, the Roadrunners doubled that margin with the help of two more three’s from Lester, extending the lead to a dozen with just one period left. In the fourth, Holbrook kept the Wildcats at bay, eventually winning the game 63-49.
Holbrook was led by Epps with 20 points. Baldwin added 11; Keoni and Lester, 9 each; Jackson, 8; Frank Martin, 5; and Jimrail Manygoats, 1. Holbrook made five three-point shots, and went 10 for 15 at the line.
Fields led all scoring with 23 points for the Wildcats. Daniel Bushman and Wyatt Bain added 9 each, while Wyatt Johnson, Jaden Parra, Austin Lee and Austin Gardner netted 2 each. The Cats made three treys and went 10 for 16 at the line.
Holbrook 18 11 17 17 63
Joseph City 6 17 11 15 49
Holbrook moves to 26-3 on the season. After hosting St. Johns on Tuesday, the Roadrunners will wrap up the regular season at Chinle on Friday, Feb. 3. Holbrook will most likely be the top seed when the sectional tournament begins next week.
