Chinle cruises past Window Rock, 74-32

Posted by Oree Foster | Dec 29, 2016 | Basketball |

Navajo Times | File photo
Window Rock Scout Koeby Emerson (2) flies through the air as Chinle’s Cooper Burbank (3) looks during the championship finals of the Choice Wireless Classic earlier this month. The Scouts won that game by a 58-47 count but in a rematch last week Chinle avenged that loss with a 74-32 victory in 3A North Region action.

FORT DEFIANCE

It was payback for the Chinle Wildcats.

After losing to the Window Rock Fighting Scouts in the championship game during the Choice Wireless Classic at the Wildcat Den two weeks earlier, Chinle had revenge on its mind in a more meaningful game.

Chinle head coach Raul Mendoza said it would have been nice to win the (Choice Wireless Classic) tournament before the hometown fans at the Wildcat Den, but the game at the Window Rock Events Center in Fort Defiance was more important.

The showdown between the two nearby rivals were competing in a Class 3A North Region game and points in the statewide power rankings.

Mendoza said he told his players that the region games are more important than the tournament championship.

“I told the kids that we want to win the region games,” he said. “The region games count in the standings and power rankings. We learned from our loss during the tournament championship game. The kids came to play. They wanted to win our region-opener. They went out and played 32 minutes of basketball.”

After a close first quarter, where Chinle led, 16-15, the Wildcats dismantled the Fighting Scouts during the next three quarters for a 74-32 victory.

“The kids took care of the ball,” Mendoza said. “During the entire game, we committed only 12 turnovers, which is good for an early season game. The kids were patient and had good shot selection. There was a large crowd, but that didn’t bother our kids. It was a good win for the kids.”

Chinle’s defense swarmed Window Rock’s Tristan Nez, who earned most valuable player honors during the Choice Wireless Classic. During the tournament, Nez was unstoppable, canning baskets from the perimeter and from the three-point arc.

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