In the mix: Tuba City girls seeking to challenge for 3A North crown

GILBERT, Ariz. – It’ll be weeks before the race for the 3A North girls basketball crown will be decided.

Tuba City girls basketball coach Kim Williams is convinced that her young squad belongs in the mix.

“I want to win it,” Williams said last week during the Epic Tourneys New Years Classic tournament. “Every coach wants to win it, and we have the opportunity to do that.

“We have the same amount of talent as everybody else in our region,” she added. “We’re all even; all seven teams are even. It’s going to come down to who wants it more.”

As this paper goes to print, the Window Rock Lady Scouts head the 3A North race with a 3-0 record followed by Chinle (2-0), Tuba City (1-1), Page (1-2), Alchesay (0-1), Ganado (0-3) and Monument Valley (0-1).

“It’s my job to prepare them and put them in position to win,” Williams said. “But the other part is on them. They have to do their jobs and a lot of them have accepted their roles.”

The longtime coach returns four starters from last year’s squad that reached the 3A state quarterfinals.

“I’m going a little deeper with my bench than I did last year,” Williams said. “I only have one senior and two juniors that are playing a lot of minutes. The rest are sophomores and juniors.

“If you look at our region, I have the youngest team again,” she added. “I’ve had to fill in roles with younger players and the last few years they have really stepped up their play.”

Senior Kiyanna Susanyatame was tabbed the team’s captain, a role that she’s embraced.

“I’m having to do a lot more,” Susanyatame said. “Being captain is a big responsibility and I’m trying to be an effective leader on and off the court.”

“(Kiyanna) has really come out of her comfort zone, but she’s matured a lot,” the Tuba City coach chimed in.

Scoring-wise, the Lady Warriors have leaned on junior Eriana Begay, who has been averaging double figures at 11.6 points per game.

“She’s consistent offensively and defensively,” Williams said of her pupil. “She just loves the game and she’s tenacious.”

Like her coach, Begay believes the Tuba City team can get far in the playoffs.

“I think this team can go all the way,” Begay said. “I believe in the talents that we have. If we all come together, I think we can get far (in the playoffs).”

And although they have some youth, Begay has seen some growth from the freshmen players which include Makayeli Tsinnie, Jailyan Acothley, Trece Tsinigine and Jana West.

Of the quartet, Tsinigine is averaging 6.3 ppg, which is fifth-best on the team.

“We struggled with our bench last year, but our freshmen have contributed a lot to this team,” Begay said. “They’ve come off the bench to give us good minutes. We have a better selection in our bench.”

At the Epic Tourneys, Tuba City went 4-0, capturing the Knight bracket with a 40-36 win over 6A team Higley High on Saturday night.

The four-point triumph was Tuba City’s second win over a 6A team at the tournament, which bodes well for the Williams-coached team as the Warriors travels to Alchesay to resume 3A North play on Saturday.

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