Crownpoint girls extend 8-game win streak in ugly 42-21 win over Thoreau

By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times

CROWNPOINT – Crownpoint girls basketball coach Byron Murphy knows that not all wins can be pretty.

Such was the case on Wednesday night as the No. 3 ranked Lady Eagles extended its winning streak to eight games by posting a 42-21 triumph over the Thoreau Lady Hawks in a key District 1-3A contest.

The Murphy-coached team improved to 13-3 overall and 3-0 in district play as the Eagles posted wins over Newcomb and Tohatchi last week.

“We have games where it doesn’t go our way, and then there’s games where everything clicks for us,” Murphy said. “We’re trying to get more of those types of games where we’re clicking. Just like when we played Tohatchi. That was a tough matchup and the girls played really (well), but tonight we just couldn’t get our shots to fall.”

The Eagles were ice cold as they made 18-of-75 shots, which included a 1-of-27 effort from the 3-point line.

“We kind of had one of those nights where our shots weren’t falling, but we tried to make it up on the defensive side,” Crownpoint forward Courtney Craig said. “When we play defense, we get all hyped up and that is where we get our offensive opportunities.”

Thoreau (7-11) also had its shooting woes, too, as the Hawks didn’t score their first basket until the 4:44 mark of the second period when junior power forward Kayleigh Dodge ended an 11-minute scoring drought.

“Injuries are hurting our team,” said Thoreau head coach Evangeline Platero, who had the interim tag removed on Wednesday night. “We’re having to move up our JV players. We’re missing five varsity girls to injuries and four them were starters, so we have a whole new lineup and they’re still meshing.”

From the outset, Thoreau struggled. They went 0-for-6 from the field and 0-for-4 from the charity line in the opening quarter.

“We’re just trying to get that basketball in the hole,” Platero said. “We had so many opportunities under the basket, but they just rolled out.”

Platero added that her team needs to make better shot selections, which also includes spacing the floor. She also lamented on getting back on transition as Crownpoint had several fastbreak layups.

After going scoreless for the first 11-plus minutes, Thoreau received another bucket by junior Raylene Sardo and trialed 18-5 at the break.

Crownpoint opened the second half on a 6-2 run behind a pair of baskets from senior guard Kathryn Francisco for a 24-7 cushion.

Nonetheless, Thoreau answered with a run of its own, as they cut that deficit down to 26-14 heading into the fourth thanks to a late 5-0 run, which included a last-second 3-pointer from junior Jodee Delgarito.

Behind Craig’s six-point effort, the Eagles put the game away in the middle of the fourth as they gained a 38-16 cushion after a pair of free throws from junior Miley McMillian.

Craig led all scorers with 13 points while sophomore guard Holly Jiron added 10 and Francisco chipped in eight.

For Thoreau, senior guard Rhya Jeff and senior post Reagan Russette both finished with four points apiece.

Both teams will be in action tonight with Crownpoint traveling to Zuni while Thoreau is hosting Newcomb.

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