Friday, March 29, 2024

NACA scores go-ahead basket to edge Crownpoint

NACA scores go-ahead basket to edge Crownpoint
Navajo Times | Paul Natonabah Native American Community Academy’s Tino Pettis (21) leaps past Crownpoint’s Taven Chavez (23) during second half action at Crownpoint High School on Nov. 21. NACA defeated Crownpoint, 41-40.

Navajo Times | Paul Natonabah
Native American Community Academy’s Tino Pettis (21) leaps past Crownpoint’s Taven Chavez (23) during second half action at Crownpoint High School on Nov. 21. NACA defeated Crownpoint, 41-40.

CROWNPOINT

What began as a mental collapse turned into teaching points for the Native American Community Academy boys’ basketball team.

The visiting Eagles got a key steal from Aaron Lee with three seconds left in regulation as the senior guard scored the game-winning basket on Saturday against Crownpoint.

“We got bailed out there at the end,” NACA coach Howard Humetewa said, following their exciting 40-39 win. “We got a few lucky bounces and the ball landed to the right person at the right time.”

The go-ahead basket by Lee is what people will remember most, but with just over a minute left, Humetewa said they had a mental lapse. The young and inexperienced NACA team fouled Crownpoint’s best free throw shooter.

The visiting Eagles did it twice, as senior forward Derrick Dixson was fouled while attempting a three-point shot and turned a three-point deficit into a 40-39 lead by nailing 4-of-6 shots at the charity line.

“We kind of hurt ourselves by fouling him,” Humetewa said. “But at the end we didn’t panic.”

Crownpoint coach Gary Morrow said it was a tough loss, but he acknowledged that there were some bright spots.

“When we were down, I thought they handled that well,” Morrow said. “They stayed focused and they played hard the whole game. They played tough mentally, and as a coach, that’s all I can ask for.”

He said it was comforting to see his players bounce back from their season opener against Thoreau as the Eagles dropped a 72-56 decision.
“They definitely improved from (last Friday’s) game,” he said, while adding that as a first-year coach, his kids are still learning his system.

“The offense is new, so you know there are going to be some mistakes,” he said.


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About The Author

Quentin Jodie

Quentin Jodie is the Sports Editor for the Navajo Times. He started working for the Navajo Times in February 2010 and was promoted to the Sports Editor position at the end of summer in 2012. Previously, he wrote for the Gallup Independent. Reach him at qjodie@navajotimes.com

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