Lady Rezbombers claim glory at the 20th Annual Native American Basketball Invitational

By Donovan Quintero
Special to the Times

PHOENIX — The atmosphere inside the Footprint Center was electric, charged with the fervor of fans gathered to witness a historic clash between Arizona’s Lady Rezbombers and the highly regarded Lady Legendary Elite from Oklahoma.

As the two teams took to the court, it was clear that every player had her eyes locked on victory. The Lady Elite, who won the Native American Basketball Invitational title last year, were aiming for another championship trophy to take home.

But the Rezbombers had other plans.

Head coach Brian Kaye believed that all his team needed to do was get by the semifinal game against the Lady Native Soldiers. Once it did, the game plan fell into place against the Legendary Elite.

“We were hoping that we would get by the semifinal game, which we did; everything fell into place,” said Coach Kaye. “So we already had a game plan set.

From the start the Lady Rezbombers, led by a trio of standout athletes—Sydney Benally, Anita Johnson, and Kapiolani Anitielu—set the tempo for what would soon be recognized as a defining performance in the tournament. The opening tip-off unleashed a whirlwind of skill and determination, immediately lighting a fire under the home crowd, who roared in approval as their team made its intentions known.

Leading the charge was Benally, who not only earned the MarJon Beauchamp MVP trophy but also showcased her scoring prowess by finishing as the game’s top scorer with 23 points. Benally quickly established herself as a formidable force, as she had during the 2024 New Mexico Nusenda Credit Union Girls Basketball State Championship Class 5A against Volcano Vista in March.

From the opening tip-off, it was clear that the Rezbombers were determined not to let Oklahoma achieve back-to-back championships.

In the first half, Benally secured 18 of the Lady Rezbomber’s points with her stellar performance, helping Arizona build a sizeable 37-22 halftime lead.

“Our goal was to make it easy, not to force anything,” said Benally. “Just keep swinging the ball, get it moving, and just take what they give us.”

Benally’s performance was particularly noteworthy given her recent history. Earlier this year, she had participated in the 2024 Section 7 Basketball Team Camp in Phoenix, where she helped lead Sandia High School to a 20-point win over the Xavier College Prep Lady Gators in the Avondale Toyota Bracket in June.

Benally also was named the New Mexico girls’ Gatorade Player of the Year. She has established herself as a formidable talent and is currently ranked 143rd nationally in her class, according to MaxPreps.

Benally played every minute until the final moments, when she was subbed out with a comfortable 30-point lead. In addition to her scoring, Benally facilitated numerous plays, contributing assists in the first half. Defensively, she effectively contained the Legendary Elite’s offense.

The Lady Legendary Elites, despite their respected reputation, found themselves on the defensive early and often. They struggled to maintain possession and fell victim to the fast-paced onslaught orchestrated by the Rezbombers. As the scoreboard ticked ever upward in favor of the Rezbombers, it became clear to Elite head coach Donny Ray Gibson that they would have to dig deep if they wanted to fight back.

“We just didn’t rebound, our shots weren’t dropping,” said Gibson. “I feel like we got out-efforted. We just couldn’t get things going.

“Once they got that momentum, it was hard to catch up,” said Coach Gibson. “That whole team is tough. They came out and took it.”

After the game, Benally expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to compete in the NABI tournament.

“I think overall this tournament, it was fun to play in, just the energy that the crowd brought,” said Benally. “And then also playing in the (Phoenix) Suns arena, it was really, really cool. And just everyone’s showing their support and just how strong our community is.”

By the end of the contest, Benally had amassed an impressive 23 points, including five three-pointers that showcased her acute sharpshooting skills.

Meanwhile, Kapiolani Anitielu, the former Farmington Lady Scorpion standout, played a pivotal role on the defensive end. It wasn’t until the second half when her offensive capabilities came into play that helped the Lady RezBombers extend its lead.

“I felt like it went great,” Anitielu said. “All of us were locked in from the start. We started sharing the ball. We took our time with what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it.”

Anitielu contributed three points in the first half and added 14 points on the boards in the second half. On the defensive end, the 5’11” guard used her height and speed to keep the lane inside the paint closed off from the Legendary Elite.

“I feel like our defense is a big part of our offense, and our rebounds really kept us like kept us in that lead,” she said.

Johnson’s defensive tenacity stifled the Lady Legendary Elite’s attempts to penetrate the lane, forcing turnovers and instilling doubt in her opponents’ minds. When on offense, Johnson’s play under the basket against the Legendary Elite’s zone and man-to-man defenses earned her five points in free throw points, along with two points at the basket, in the first half, contributing to the team’s dominant performance. On the defensive end, she effectively disrupted the Lady Elite’s game, further showcasing her impact. The former Navajo Prep Lady Eagle contributed a total of 13 points.

Coach Kaye said while three players from this year’s squad will be returning, three players will age out, but says he feels confident the team will not be in a rebuilding phase.

“We’ve got younger girls coming up,” said Kaye. “Right now we’ve got a second team, the Diné Bombers.”

The Diné Bombers made it to the Sweet 16 round. In June, they claimed the girls title at the Magic Classic tournament in Fort Defiance., earning them a right to play in last week’s NABI tournament.

“So, we have girls we can always move up from there,” said Kaye.

Benally, who has another year at Sandia High School, said she will start visiting universities this fall and might make a decision as to which school she will commit to by October. Anitielu and Johnson have made their commitments and will begin playing at New Mexico Highlands University.

Before exiting the arena, Benally emphasized that she was appreciative of her teammates and their efforts that helped the Lady Rezbombers to the championship..

“I’m just thankful for this opportunity,” she said. “Thankful for my teammates for how unselfish they are, and just building me as a basketball player,” she said.

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