SFIS girls get aggressive, make semis

ALBUQUERQUE

It is not like the Santa Fe Indian School Lady Braves to dive for a basketball. Nor is it like them to take an opponent’s aggressive nature and use it against them.

But when it comes to important ball games like the 4A quarterfinals of the New Mexico girls state basketball tournament, where the No. 6 seeded Lady Braves upset No. 3 West Las Vegas, 52-46, SFIS did what they had to to clinch the win.

Santa Fe Indian head coach Christie Abeyta said she saw a different look in her team that worked in their favor.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen them play that aggressive,” she said. “But when you’re in that corner, (you have to) put up your dukes or get beat up, and we decided to fight tonight.”

Fight the Lady Braves did. They battled through and earned a ticket to face No. 2 seed Shiprock. Tip off is scheduled for today at 11:30 a.m. at the University of New Mexico WisePies Arena aka Pit.
The Shiprock High School Lady Chiefs closed out their quarterfinal game in typical fashion: rezball style.

No. 2 seed Shiprock jumped out ahead of No. 7 Taos in the 4A quarterfinal game on Tuesday before taking the 53-32 victory.

Shiprock made a 15-0 run before allowing Taos to put five points on the board. The Lady Chiefs led 15-5 after one quarter.

Shiprock head coach Larenson Henderson said the quick start and strong defense was the focus heading into the game.

“We try to influence the girls to try to keep teams at zero as long as we can,” Henderson said. “The girls did a great job. As soon as we get them on zero we tried to keep them as long as we can on zero. We got a good jump on them right away and I was pleased with that.”

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