HJHS Roadrunners Win WML Crown

Holbrook Junior High School’s eighth grade boys’ basketball team culminated a season of hard work and learning with a White Mountain League Championship last weekend in Winslow.
   Holbrook posted a 7-3 mark during the season with losses to Snowflake, Show Low and Winslow.
   After taking care of St. Johns in the second round of the playoffs on Feb. 28 by a final of 51-28, the young Birds found themselves in the final four along with each of the three teams that had beaten them.
   During the season Holbrook’s worst loss came on the road at Snowflake. Holbrook was able to avenge that loss in the semifinal round, but it took overtime before the Birds came out on top, 39-37. In a game in which neither team had more than a five-point lead it came down to the wire twice before Holbrook sent the Lobos packing.
   In the other semifinal matchup Show Low and Winslow also went down to the wire before the Cougars finally came out on top, also by two points, setting up a championship game between the same teams that faced each other in the first game of the season.
   In that first game Holbrook was beaten by eight points, but from the tip on Saturday the Birds held the upper hand, giving their best performance of the season. Playing a strong defensive game, the Roadrunners were able to outscore Show Low in every period en route to the 44-27 championship win.
   “Our goal coming into the season was not to be concerned with wins or losses. We wanted to make sure the kids learned as much about the game as possible, especially on the defensive end of the floor,” said Coach Greg Perkins. “We had 13 young men who played pretty much equal minutes throughout the season and who spent a lot of time figuring out how to play a structured game, and in the end they came together and peaked at the right time. We came into the tournament as the underdog, but I asked the kids to send a message to the other teams, and we were able to come out on top.
   “The team of Cody Chee, Ty Keyonnie, Jalen Jackson, Miles Begay, Caleb Layden, Myles John, Bryson Keoni, Hector Yazzie, Levi Reyes, Gage Alley, R.J. Alvarado, Ryan Baldonado and Derrick James went through a lot of hard work, sweat and frustrations, and now, hopefully, they are better prepared to contribute to the high school team if they so choose.
   “I would like to thank the administration, the faculty and Assistant Coach Keith Wheeler for their sup-port during the season. Everyone understood the expectations I put on the team and they were all very help-ful in carrying out those expectations. I would also like to thank the parents and fans who supported the guys. The majority of the parents were very supportive, which is what it takes to make a good team.”