The Roadrunners picked up their third regular season win of the season on Jan. 23 and the visiting Show Low Cougars have been the recipients of two of those three wins. Holbrook defeated the Cougars by eight points back on Jan. 5th, and while Tuesday night’s game wasn’t decided until the final 20 seconds, the Birds again came out on top 51-47 this time around.
Josiah Freddie returned to the court for Holbrook following an injury and he along with Jaren Jackson each hit a pair of free throws in the first to help Holbrook keep pace with the Cougars. In the second, Holbrook got five points from point guard Eric Baldonado and Terrence Kelly, which kept the game close at the half with the Cougars on top 23-22.
Show Low came out in the third and made a run outscoring the Birds 14-9 to grab a six-point lead heading into the final period. Baldonado took over the game down the stretch for Holbrook. He scored 10 of his team high 15 in the final eight minutes. Those along with a big three-point shot from Tynen Thomas and two big closing free throws by Kelly sealed the win for the Roadrunners.
Baldonado finished with 15, which included a pair of treys. Jackson went five for six at the line and ended the game with 11 points. Kelly added 8; Tyrell Nelson, 6; Thomas, 5; Freddie, 4; and Emerson Begay helped with 2. Holbrook finished the game with five three-point shots and went 14 for 17 at the free throw line, which essentially kept them in the game.
Show Low was led by Colton McGinnis with 14 points. James Brown added 9; Thadeus Carlyon, 8; Garrett Winn and Trent Williams each netted 7; and Darins Larson helped with 2. The Cougars went five for nine at the charity stripe and hit two long-range shots.
With the win Holbrook improved their overall season record to 12-13. They are now 3-11 in power ranking games. This win will inch them closer to a state qualifying birth, however, a couple more wins in their final four games may be needed. After hosting Snowflake last Friday, the Roadrunners traveled to Chinle on Saturday. Tuesday they was at rival Winslow. Their final regular season game will be this Friday, Feb. 2, when they host Payson.
