Hoops hero twins

Newcomb’s Begay brothers work their magic to confound opponents

SHIPROCK

When Newcomb High School sophomore Deontay Begay and his identical twin brother Deondre Begay are on the basketball court, magic happens.

The two are known to use their physical and mental abilities as identical twins to confuse opponents and to contribute to their team’s early success this season. The Skyhawks not only defeated a 5A school for the first time in the program’s history but have only one loss so far this season, as of deadline on Tuesday.

Deontay Begay, the older of the two by three minutes, said the bond he shares with his brother translates onto the basketball.

“We have the same minds. Every time we’re going down the court, we’ll know where the other one’s at. We don’t have to try that hard,” Deontay Begay said. “For my brother, I just know when he’s going to cut and I’ll just throw it right there where he needs it; it’s just like a feeling, a little tingle.”

The 15-year-olds have played basketball for most of the young lives. Growing up in Newcomb, where there are few extracurricular activities to engage in left them almost no choice but to play in at a least one high school sport in every season.

The two also played football, and helped the team make their first quarterfinals appearance in the state playoffs this season. They are also avid track and field participants in both field and running events.

But their true abilities shine most when they pick up a basketball.

Deondre Begay said basketball allows them to complement each other’s talents.

“I drive it in most of the time. I don’t stay outside and shoot. He’s (Deontay) usually outside shooting threes,” Deondre Begay said. “If I drive and a defender comes. I can pass it out to him.

I know he can knock it down.”

The bond the two share has become one of Newcomb’s many assets this season.

Newcomb head coach Dominique Richardson said there is no doubt that having the twins on the team has made them a force to be reckoned with.

“Absolutely, they make everything go. When we need a couple of big defensive stops or we need a bucket, you can count on one of those two,” Richardson said. “They create havoc for everybody.”

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