Lady Birds Bring Experience, Depth To Court This Season

    The Lady Roadrunners will send a veteran team to the floor when the basketball season gets under way next week. Coach Greg Perkins has eight seniors on the roster, seven of whom have varsity experience from last season. They will be joined by three juniors and a pair of sophomores.
    Seniors on the team this season include April Lester, Mallory Martin, Nicole Baldwin, Sheria Billie, Danielle Tapaha, Amanda Chee, Samantha Yazzie and Chelsea Hadley. Juniors Cina Cummings, Nyomi Yazzie and Danielle Lowman will be joined by sophomores Aaren Billie and Shantina Kinlicheenie.
   Holbrook will host Joseph City in a scrimmage game at 5 p.m. today (Nov. 20), then open the season on Tuesday, Nov. 24, when they host Snowflake. Holbrook is looking to improve on last season’s 7-22 overall record.
    “Last year we didn’t win a lot of games, but we did make drastic improvements in our level of play. Competing in the North region will always be difficult, but I feel we are more prepared after a successful summer and our off-season workouts,” said the coach. “This year we have a veteran group of girls who should know what to expect. I have set higher expectations for them, which means a more demanding approach than we had last year. Our success once again will be based on our defense, but we are certainly going to have to improve on the offensive end if we want to meet the goals we have set. This year we have a tremendous group of girls throughout all three teams who will continue to help build the program for the future.”
   Coach Claude Bakurza will once again guide the junior varsity team, which at this point includes junior Sheriesse Thomas, and sophomores Kellin Bakurza, Charmayne Freddie, Tamika Baldwin, Kenalda Quintero, Janecia Nez, Shianne Nez, Emberly Yazzie, Ryshen Begay and Tamisha Yazzie.
   Tim Yazzie will coach the freshmen team, which consists of Shahannah Martin, Allyson Sinquah, Courtney Alex, Colbi Nez, Jessica Paz, Samantha Smith, Jennifer Bichitty, Morgan Puente, Tatyanna Chase, Kanaysa Curley, Eriene Haskie, August Tsosie, Sophine Yazzie, Brittany Baldwin and Starla Smith.
    “We had over 60 girls try out for the program this season, and I feel we have some very talented players at the lower levels. I fully expect some of those players to begin to rise in the program very early in the season,” said Coach Perkins.
   After Thanksgiving, the Lady Roadrunners have a very busy schedule. They will host Blue Ridge on Monday, Nov. 30, then travel to Show Low on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and will be on the road again two days later to face Valley Sanders. On Monday, Dec. 7, they travel to Payson.