Lady Braves coach blames defense for loss

ALBUQUERQUE

The Santa Fe Indian School girls’ basketball team learned that change can lead to good things.

They started the season with first-year coach Patricia Chavez and changed their defense to earn their only win against district rival Robertson.

But in the Class 3A championship game, which was their fifth meeting with No. 1-seeded Robertson, No. 2 Santa Fe Indian School fell short to the Cardinals, 62-46, and ended their season at 27-6.
Chavez said they went into the championship game with a different defensive plan.

“We tried a box and one earlier, but in hindsight we should have gotten back into a Lady Brave press to get our energy and our aggressive style going,” she said. “I think I overthought that. I take the blame on that part.”

The two teams had to adjust to one another despite their previous meetings. Robertson got on the scoreboard first and it took just over two minutes for the Lady Braves to score.

Santa Fe Indian eventually took a 5-4 lead but Robertson made a 7-0 run midway through the quarter and led 14-10 after one quarter.

The Cardinals made another run to start the second quarter, this time an 8-0 run, and gained more leverage. Santa Fe Indian broke the streak with a basket inside only to have Robertson answer back with an 8-0 run to end the first half with the 32-15 lead.

Robertson coach Jose Medina said the plan was to adjust to whatever defense the Lady Braves threw their way and use their height advantage.

“I was expecting them to go box and one, triangle and two, so we had set up some offense to try and go high-low, and take advantage of our size inside,” he said. “The girls did a good job getting it to the high post and we were able to take advantage and get some easy baskets inside.”

After allowing Robertson a basket to start the second half, the Lady Braves went on a 9-0 run to get them within 10 points, trailing 34-24.

The Lady Cardinals crashed the boards on their end of the court and led 48-32 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Santa Fe Indian made a final surge to catch Robertson, sinking three 3-point baskets to trail 56-44 with less than two minutes left in the game. The Lady Cardinals wrapped the game with a final 6-2 run.

Medina said his team stayed true to themselves and their style of playing, which ultimately got them the win.

“I thought tonight we did a better job of taking care of the ball, and executing and making shots, and making free throws,” he said. “The little things make the big things happen.”

Chavez said her team made some big plays in the second half thanks to their adjustment on defense.

She said as much as they made progress on defense, Robertson’s posts didn’t let down.

“Our triangle and two did work,” she said. “It got us back in the game in the second half, but they were prepared. The bigs are huge. When they do a give and go, a double post, it’s really dominating. With all that force, I think that’s why it’s more important to press and keep the ball from getting into their hands.”

Chavez said her team also didn’t shoot well when they had the chance.

“The first half, we shot a lot of balls, unfortunately, I think we shot 26 and they shot 28 – they made more than we did,” Chavez said. “Just that first half, we just weren’t getting buckets. I think if we had, it would have been a different story.

“I’m really proud of the girls for getting here, winning second place,” she said. “We were shooting for the blue, but it just didn’t go our way.”

Alianza Darley led Robertson with 27 points, Tessa Ortiz had 12 and Jazmyne Jenkins added 12.

Hunter Garcia led the Lady Braves with 14.

Santa Fe Indian graduates six seniors: Marlena Yazzie (from Thoreau, N.M.), Leanna Lewis, Dominique Chavarillo, Jayda Lucario, Katelynn Calabaza and Camilla Lewis.

The second-place finish was Santa Fe Indian’s second in school history. The last time they made it to the finals was in 2012, when they fell to Lovington.

Chavez said some members of the team lost family members and it was unfortunate they had to play with heavy hearts.

“I think relationships was the key point of our team’s success,” she said. “From all the coaching staff to the team, players to the coaches, players to the dorm staff, you name it.

“I think that was the key,” she said. “Just believing and trusting, caring about one another, just having fun, and believing and working hard.”

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