Hoping to have picked up some momentum from Tuesday’s road win at Payson, the Roadrunners were quickly bounced backwards on Friday by the top ranked Blue Ridge who handed the Birds a 74-46 loss.
Sitting atop the 3A rankings the Yellowjackets jumped on top of Holbrook early outscoring them 23-7 in the first eight minutes. Holbrook came back in the second with a 20 point period sparked by three treys from Tyrell Nelson. Holbrook’s defense slowed the Jackets and Blue Ridge led by only 10 at the half. Any chance Holbrook had dwindled away in the third when they netted just eight points while giving up another 20 to Blue Ridge. The two squads matched each other with 11 in the fourth with Jared Woody hitting a three-point shot for Holbrook.
The Roadrunners finished with six three-point field goals but failed to make an appearance at the free throw line in the game. Nelson led the team in scoring with 9 points. Emerson Begay and Jaren Jackson each netted 8; Jared Woody had 7; Terrence Kelley, 6; Eric Baldonado, 4; and Anthony Nelson and Tynen Thomas each had 2.
Hosting fifth ranked Page on Saturday, Holbrook’s home court did them no favors as the Sand Devils rolled to a 69-33 win. Page came out on fire scorching the nets for 24 first period points, then added another 21 points in the second to lead 45-18 at the half. Kelly was the high point for Holbrook with a pair of second half treys for a team high of 10 points. Begay added 8; Thomas, 7; Tyrell Nelson, 3; Baldonado, 2; Jackson, 2; and Zeke Begaii helped with a single point. Holbrook made one of five free throw attempts and hit six shots from behind the arc.
Page made eight long shots and went one for two at the line.
With the two losses Holbrook levels their overall season mark to 12-12 and they are now 2-11 in regular season contests leaving them ranked 24th in the rankings heading into this week. After hosting Show Low on Tuesday the Birds will welcome in seventh ranked Snowflake on Friday. Holbrook then travels to Chinle on Saturday to take on the sixth ranked Wildcats. Following those three games Holbrook has just two games left in the final week of the regular season. They will play at Winslow on Tuesday and then host Payson on senior night on Feb. 2.
