Lady Mustangs dominate Lady Bulldogs behind Mutte’s leadership

Posted by Navajo Times | Nov 30, 2024 | Basketball |

By Lee Begaye
Special to the Times

KAYENTA

Coming off a commanding 59-20 win over Hopi in their season opener on Nov. 20, the Monument Valley Lady Mustangs continued its strong start with a decisive 66-38 victory over the 3A East Winslow Lady Bulldogs on Nov. 22.

Senior guard Latisha Mutte led the charge with a 16-point performance, supported by a defense that took control of the game in the second half.

The win marked a promising start under head coach Sophie Patterson, who returned to the program after a nine-year hiatus. Patterson, who previously coached within the Monument Valley girls and boys teams until her departure in 2016, takes over a squad that went 19-12 last season, reaching the AIA 3A state quarterfinals before falling to runner-up Window Rock. “The position opened, and it was advertised, so I applied,” Patterson shared. “Don’t count me out. I’ve coached here before—for both the girls and as an assistant for the boys—and I’m excited to be back.”

Special to the Times | Truman Begaye
Winslow’s Biinay Patterson (20) puts up a shot while being closely guarded by Monument Valley Mustang Binay Smith (20) on Nov. 22. The Mustangs won, 66-38.

Despite losing top scorer Corey Sandoval to graduation, the Lady Mustangs boast a deep roster led by senior center Keiryn Mann, who averaged 10.3 points per game last season.

The first quarter saw a closely contested matchup, with Monument Valley edging ahead 15-10. Six Lady Mustangs contributed to the scoring, with no player scoring more than three points. For Winslow, junior forward Allison Holiday led with four points, while three teammates each added two.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with both teams trading baskets. Winslow slightly outscored Monument Valley 9-8, trimming the halftime deficit to 23-19. Freshman guard Meggan Sandoval and junior Kanon Dalton led the Lady Mustangs with five points each, while Holiday and junior forward Kaitlyn Belone paced the Lady Bulldogs with six points apiece.

The game shifted dramatically in the third quarter. Mutte spearheaded a relentless full-court press, forcing turnovers and sparking a nine-point scoring effort to open the half. Despite carrying three fouls from the first half, Mutte’s defensive tenacity and leadership on the court helped Monument Valley outscore Winslow 19-6 in the quarter.

Even with Dalton playing cautiously because of her four fouls, the Lady Mustangs maintained their intensity. Senior center Biinay Patterson contributed four of Winslow’s six points in the quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs struggled to break through the press.

The Lady Mustangs sealed the win with a dominant fourth quarter, scoring 19 points. Senior forward Dineh Parrish led the way with six points, as the team spread the ball effectively. Winslow’s junior forward Tatum Henling fought hard, contributing six points in the final period, while Belone added five, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback.

Special to the Times | Lee Begaye
Winslow junior forward Tatum Henling shoots an uncontested layup in the 66-38 loss to the Monument Valley Lady Mustangs at the Nash Center in Kayenta.

Mutte finished with a game-high 16 points, while Sandoval chipped in nine. For Winslow, Henling and Belone led the scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Coach Patterson praised Mutte’s composure despite the foul trouble. “I knew she could play through it, but it wasn’t just Mutte—Kanon was also playing with four fouls,” Patterson said. “Mutte is hungry to lead us far into the postseason. The girls started the game a little sloppy, but in the second half, they settled down and showed what they are capable of.”

Monument Valley (2-0) will resume play after the Thanksgiving break, traveling to face Navajo Prep on Dec. 3. Winslow (1-2) will look to rebound that same day in a matchup at Ganado.