Gold Division boys

AZ Warriors repeat as champions

PHOENIX

After coaching the AZ Warriors for over two decades, Robert Johnston is going out as a winner.

Behind a senior laden team, Johnston’s team had four players finish in double figures as the AZ Warriors repeated as the Gold Division winners at the Native American Basketball Invitational.
The AZ Warriors defeated team Respect, 81-68, in the championship game that was played at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix on July 2.

“This is the end of my run,” Johnston said. “I’ve been coaching for 24 years and I think it’s time for a break. This was a good way to end it.”

Amaury Matthews led the Warriors with 24 points while Malik Simmons and MVP Reyes Lomayestewa helped out with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Hank Hibbeler added 10 points.

After trailing in the early going, the AZ Warriors played with poise and erased a 13-point deficit midway through the first half and closed that gap down to 33-31 at the break.

“These boys has shown that type of heart throughout the tournament,” Johnston said. “A lot of our good games we started out down.”

The longtime coach credited his team for not giving up while keeping up the defensive pressure.

“We’re not the best shooting team,” Johnston said. “That was never our strong suit. It was just our defense and us breaking down their defense.”

Former Farmington High standout Tyren King said they came into the championship game with the mindset of playing as a team.

“We only lost two seniors last year but we really didn’t come in here wanting to win it again,” said King, who signed with Little Priest Tribal College in Winnebago, Nebraska.

“We wanted to play as a family and protect each other,” he said.

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