Monument Valley boys win Bear bracket over Alamo Navajo

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Jan 4, 2018 | Basketball |

Navajo Times | Ravonelle Yazzie
Alamo Navajo’s Scott Apachito (10) looks to make a two-point basket during the championship game of the boys’ Bear bracket at the 2017 Striking Eagle Native American Invitational in Albuquerque on Saturday. Alamo Navajo lost to Monument Valley, Utah by a 78-71 count in overtime.

The best game during the Striking Eagle Native American Invitational took place in the championship game of the boys Bear bracket.

The Monument Valley and Alamo Navajo game left fans wanting more as the MV Cougars denied Alamo Navajo a third straight SENAI title.

Both teams refused to go away as MV came away with an entertaining 78-71 overtime win at the Johnson Center at the University of New Mexico campus.

“I told these boys that this was going to be a tough one,” Monument Valley coach Derrick Chee said. “Every little thing on the court counted. I have to give my hats off to the other team because they fought and fought. There was no quit on both ends. The team that was more disciplined came out on top.”

Going into the championship game, Chee felt that his team was prepared to take on all of the challenges presented to them.

That included losing the service of senior guard Khalid Begay, who was inadvertently elbowed in the head. Begay sat for most of the game but when he came back he added 10 of his 18 points to finish as the tournament’s MVP.

“We had to work as a team to come out on top,” said Begay, who had a knot above his left eye.