Broncos sweep Shiprock

Kirtland Central stole the spotlight over the weekend as the Broncos and Lady Broncos basketball teams swept Shiprock for both District 1-4A basketball titles.

The Lady Broncos topped Shiprock Saturday afternoon at Bronco Arena, 46-27, in a showdown between the top two ranked teams in girls Class 4A basketball as Kirtland Central demonstrated just why they are ranked No. 1 overall.

Four hours later and 23 miles away at the Chieftain Pit, the KC Broncos boys basketball team escaped a packed Chieftain Pit for a second time this season with a win, this time for the district title, 63-56, after holding off a late Chieftain rally attempt.

Class 4A state tournament action will begin this weekend.  The Lady Broncos will host Santa Theresa on Friday and Shiprock will host Taos.  No. 7 Piedra Vista will play at Deming.

On the boys side, No. 8 Kirtland Central will host St. Pius, with No. 7 Shiprock hosting Grants and No. 11 Piedra Vista at Los Alamos.

All game times are at 7 p.m.

BOYS

Kirtland Central 63, Shiprock 56

The Chieftains and Broncos had already played four times this season, with Shiprock holding a 3-1 game advantage over Kirtland Central after winning the regular season in Wednesday’s playoff for the No. 1 seed honors and the rights to hosting Saturday night’s district championship game.

Kirtland Central, however, walked away with the crown Saturday night.

"It helps to have good team leaders," Kirtland coach John Zecca said.  "D.J. Frank has really stepped up for us in that position.

"The team took it upon themselves to huddle, and talk with each other and make sure that they were playing smart."

In yet another close contest, Shiprock took the advantage in the first period behind six points from Wesley Ben for a 15-12 lead after one.

Ben scored six more in the second quarter for the Chieftains, but Shiprock wasn’t able to handle the Broncos’ spark as Kirtland crashed the boards hard for three putbacks and Damien Charley went off for 14 points, including two three-point plays in the quarter.

"We played as a team," Charley said, adding that the intensity helped push the team.

D.J. Frank then iced two freethrows midway into the period that gave Kirtland it’s first lead of the game, 24-23.  Kirtland continued to push out, helped by Quentin Benoih, who came up with a big steal and taking it coast-to-coast for a basket, as the Broncos opened up a 35-25 lead at halftime.

"It took 110 percent focus," Frank said.  "We came in with a game plan and it worked.

"It feels great to bring back the District Championship (to Kirtland)," he added.

In the third quarter, Kirtland opened up their lead to 15 points early behind some big rebounding.

However, Shiprock went on a 12-0 run midway through the third quarter sparked by four steals from Jaron Shorty. Nick Begay downed nine points in the period and Colby Nahkai added seven as the Chieftains cut Kirtland’s lead to four, 49-45, going into the final period.

The action heated up even more in the fourth as the Chieftains tied the game with exactly five minutes remaining, 53-53 behind a big jumper from Verlyn Begay.  For a couple of seconds soon after that, Shiprock even held the lead, 55-54 after Jaron Shorty hit a short jumper.

In what could have been the deciding factor, Benioh, who returned late in the fourth quarter after going down hard, stood his ground taking Nick Begay’s charge late in the fourth that could have swung momentum back to the Chieftains.  Kirtland followed suit and stood their ground down the stretch to hold off Shiprock.

"It feels great to win at the Chieftain Pit," Benoih said, adding "It’s a rowdy place to play."

Benoih added that game came down to teamwork. "It’s about not being selfish and taking care of the ball."

Zecca said that in spite of the sky high intensity in the atmosphere one of the big keys was staying calm, adding that he forced himself to stay calm to help the team follow suit.  Staying clam and focused was a big key down the stretch as the Chieftains came pounding back.

"We knew they were going to come back," Zecca said, adding that the Broncos just had to maintain their focus and keep their composure which can be a challenge given the intensity of the crowd and the excitement of the rivalry.

The Chieftains meanwhile couldn’t counteract Kirtland’s rebounding as Frank and Charley both grabbed five big ones in the final period and Charley added seven more points for a game high 23.  Frank finished with 15 and Benoih finished with 13.

"We going to have to step it up and play the way we did tonight," Zecca added of starting the state tournament this weekend.

Benoih added that state will come down to three things: teamwork, effort and heart.

GIRLS

Kirtland Central 46, Shiprock 27

The Lady Broncos gave Shiprock a hand in keeping it close the first quarter as Kirtland fouls put the Lady Chieftains on the line four times. Shiprock iced all eight from the charity stripe.  However, Kirtland was able to edge out Shiprock for a narrow one-point lead, 11-10 after one.

The No. 1 ranked team in the state then took the reins in hand.  Two back-to-back putbacks to start the second and suddenly Kirtland had a five-point lead.  The Lady Broncos then finished on a 7-2 run for a 24-16 advantage going into the lockerroom.

An extremely stingy Lady Broncos defense held the Lady Chieftains to just 11 points throughout the entire second half.  The offense continued to widen the gap in the second half, aided by Monica Yazzie’s two treys.

The Lady Broncos settled in to playing keep away as they waited for time to expire in the fourth, so they could put tally mark No. 11 in the consecutive win column.  When the buzzer went off, Kirtland was ahead 19 points adding emphasis to their third straight District 1-4A girls basketball crown.

Amanda Kerr was the leading scorer in the game with 12 points, with teammates Monica Yazzie, who finished with nine points, and Karley Dodge and Meghan Yazzie, who both scored eight, also chipping in.

Christina Yazzie led the scoring for the Lady Chieftains with eight points.

Despite three losses to Kirtland, Shiprock retained its No. 2 ranking as both teams prepare for state tournament action this weekend.

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