Holbrook’s double digit halftime lead crumbled away bit by bit in the final minutes of Tuesday night’s 3A East Region game with Snowflake, but in the end, Korey McReeves’s ninth and 10th free throws of the night sealed the deal on the Roadrunners’ 61-59 win. Fourth seeded Holbrook hosted the fifth seeded Lobos, with the winner advancing to face the Yellowjackets in Blue Ridge on Thursday night, Feb. 9.
The Birds started well doubling up the Lobos in the first period, 16-8. Hayden Kinlichee netted five in the first period and Damian Begay added 4. Holbrook extended its lead in the second behind two more treys from Kinlichee and a third in the frame by Jared Woody.
Leading 33-22 at the break, Holbrook came out of the locker room cold, putting up just seven points. The Lobos started their comeback with six different players scoring, yet they still trailed by seven with eight minutes to play.
In the fourth Kinlichee hit two big three-pointers to keep Snowflake at bay, but late in the stanza the Lobos hit four long range shots of their own and forged their way to within two points with 26 seconds left on the clock. A Holbrook turnover gave the Lobos the ball back and they quickly took advantage, tying the game at 59-59 with 7.6 seconds left.
Holbrook inbounded the ball to McReeves, who drove all the way to the bucket, where he was fouled with 1.6 seconds on the clock. The senior calmly nailed both free throws to seal the win. He went 10 for 10 at the free throw line during the game, with eight coming in the fourth quarter.
Kinlichee led the way with 17 points. McReeves added 13; Elliot Pete and Begay, 10 each; Woody, Jayden Johns and Tynen Thomas, 3 each; and J.E. Cummings, 2.
Holbrook went 17 for 20 at the free throw line and connected on eight three-point shots.
Snowflake was led by Trey Schneider with 14. Mason Willis and Koy Kelley added 8 each; Dallin Chapman, 7; Dylan Kay, 6; Garrett Wood, 4; Tader Flake and Zach Solomon, 3; and Tanner Willis, Garson Hatch and Dylan Ervien, 2 each.
The Lobos went 12 for 18 at the charity stripe and nailed five treys.
With the win Holbrook advanced in the bracket to play in Blue Ridge on Thursday. Regardless of the outcome, they will have a game on Friday as well. That game will be at the site of the higher seeded team and will be either for the championship if they defeat Blue Ridge on Thursday, or for third and fourth play if they fall to Blue Ridge on Thursday.
With their latest win the Roadrunners improved their season mark to 11-14.
