Friday, March 29, 2024

2A boys state playoffs

2A boys state playoffs

Sixth-man buoys Alchesay to victory

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz.

The sixth-man for the Alchesay boys’ basketball team made their presence known last Saturday night at the Prescott Valley Event Center.

The Falcon faithful buoyed No. 3 Alchesay to a 71-49 victory over Scottsdale Prep, the No. 11 seed, in the quarterfinals of the Arizona 2A state boys basketball tournament.

Full Coverage of High School Basketball Playoffs

Defensive effort helps Winslow boys capture state title

Page girls top archrival Monument Valley in 3A title game

Back-to-back 1A champs

No. 12 seed MV to play Page in the 3A girls final

Winslow boys to face Blue Ridge in 3A state championship game

Fort Thomas boys take out Red Mesa in 1A semifinals, play The Gregory School in finals

St. Michael girls survive test from No. 3 Ray in 1A semifinals

Slideshow: Arizona State High School Basketball Playoffs

MV senior’s 2 free throws unseat defending champs

“I think so,” Alchesay coach Kyle Goklish said when asked if their fans rattled the Spartans, who boasted 10 players over 6-3. “We have a good following and Alchesay is always known to have that sixth-man. The kids enjoy really playing in front of them.”

With the fans behind them, Goklish said his kids fed off that energy as they kept the momentum on their side for most of the night.

Alchesay started to pull away late in the first quarter when senior forward Harley Upton spearheaded a 5-0 run with a pair of steals. The 2A North Player of the Year hit a pulled jumper from the beyond the arc and after making that he got the fans going with a layup for a 17-11 advantage after one quarter of play.

“He has a lot of heart in his game,” Goklish said of Upton. “He’s about 6-3 but sometimes he plays bigger than that.”

The Alchesay coach said Upton’s foot speed and footwork surprised the Spartan team, as they could not stop him. In the first 16 minutes Upton had 17 of his game-best 23 points at the half, including nine in the opening quarter.

“Harley was mentally focused,” Goklish said. “When he gets going the rest of the guys get going too.”


 To read the full article, pick up your copy of the Navajo Times at your nearest newsstand Thursday mornings!

Are you a digital subscriber? Read the most recent three weeks of stories by logging in to your online account.

  Find newsstand locations at this link.

Or, subscribe via mail or online here.




About The Author

Quentin Jodie

Quentin Jodie is the Sports Editor for the Navajo Times. He started working for the Navajo Times in February 2010 and was promoted to the Sports Editor position at the end of summer in 2012. Previously, he wrote for the Gallup Independent. Reach him at qjodie@navajotimes.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Weather & Road Conditions

Window Rock Weather

Fair

36.0 F (2.2 C)
Dewpoint: 27.0 F (-2.8 C)
Humidity: 70%
Wind: South at 4.6 MPH (4 KT)
Pressure: 29.96

More weather »

ADVERTISEMENT