Thursday, March 28, 2024

Select Page

Coaching means giving back to community

Coaching means giving back to community

FARMINGTON

Tanisha Begay once shared a basketball court with Ryneldi Becenti while playing in a 12-and-under tournament.

Becenti yelled at the players she was coaching to guard her.

“She was screaming at her team to guard me,” Begay said. “She’s, like, ‘She’s not even good, guard her.’ That’s the first time I ever remember her.”

Now, nearly a decade later, the two shared the court to teach upcoming girls to be the best ballers they can be.

Begay, from Shiprock, and former Navajo Prep volleyball and basketball player Jazmin Benally joined Becenti for the Rising Stars Girls’ Basketball Camp held at Navajo Prep from June 18 to 22.

Begay, who finished her second season playing on the Fort Lewis College women’s basketball team, said it was a chance to get an inside look at the camp she had heard about but never attended or instructed.

“When I was invited, it was cool … I’ve never gone to the camp, I always wanted to see how it played out and wanted to see just the way they run things,” Begay said.

“I feel like they do so many things for the kids, that’s something I really wanted to get into is giving back to my community,” she said. “And making it local for the kids to be able to play basketball at a different level, with higher expectations like this camp.”


 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

Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi

Sunnie Clahchischiligi has been the sports writer for the Navajo Times since 2008. She has a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the University of New Mexico. Before joining the Times, she worked at the St. Cloud Times (Minn.), the Albuquerque Journal, the Santa Fe New Mexican, Sports Illustrated Magazine in New York City and the Salt Lake Tribune. She can be reached at sunnie@navajotimes.com or via cell at (505) 686-0769.

ADVERTISEMENT

Weather & Road Conditions

Window Rock Weather

Fair

23.0 F (-5.0 C)
Dewpoint: 21.0 F (-6.1 C)
Humidity: 92%
Wind: Calm
Pressure: 30.18

More weather »

ADVERTISEMENT