Lady Birds Breeze By Sanders

    Holbrook’s Lady Roadrunners improved to 4-0 on the season with a 17-point road win at Valley Sanders last Thursday.
   Nicole Baldwin heated up in the first period for the Lady Birds, netting eight of her team high 22 points in the first eight minutes, with two shots coming from behind the arc, helping Holbrook to a 10-point first period lead.
   In the second, Holbrook had a more balanced attack, taking advantage of several steals, which turned into easy points to build a 32-15 halftime lead.
   Both teams scored well in the third period, but Holbrook hit four treys to push the lead to 20 points heading to the final quarter.
   In the fourth, Valley outscored the Lady Birds by three points, but the damage had been done and Holbrook left Sanders with a 64-47 win.
   “We knew this was a power point game, so we needed to play well and get the win,” said Coach Greg Perkins.
   “I thought our pressure worked well through most of the first half, but just before halftime we gave them some momentum that we shouldn't have. Early in the third Nicole (Baldwin) hit a big three-point shot and we made a nice defensive play on the other end, which gave us a 5-0 run to start the half and get the momentum back.
   “We played better than we have in the past couple of games, but we are still a long way from where we will need to be when Window Rock comes to town next Tuesday. We need to be at the top of our game when we face every North region team to be able to compete. We have gotten off to a good start record wise, but we need to play better,” said the coach.
   Baldwin led all scorers with 22 points, including 18 on six three-point shots. April Lester added 11, Sam Yazzie and Danielle Tapaha, 8 each, Aaren Billie, 5, Cina Cummings, 4, Amanda Chee, 3, Shantina Kinlicheenie, 2, and Mallory Martin, 1.
   Holbrook made 25 field goals, with eight coming from three-point land, and made good on six of 12 free throws.
   Valley hit for 17 field goals, none from long range, and made 13 of 19 free throws.
Holbrook 17 15 21 11   64
Valley         7    8 18 12   47
   If weather permitted, the Lady Roadrunners played in Payson Monday night. They will next be in action at the Round Valley tournament, with play beginning on Thursday, Dec. 10. Bracket play begins on Friday and will continue into Saturday. The Lady Birds will host Window Rock on Tuesday, Dec. 15, to open North region play. The following weekend, they will be in action at the highly competitive Winslow Winter Classic beginning on Thursday, Dec. 17.