Peshlakai memorial tourney records largest turnout
The Native Boyz team gathers for a photo after wining the men’s division of the 4th Annual Peshlakai Angels Memorial ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’ Basketball Tournament. (Times photo – Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi)
NEWCOMB, N.M.
Like many Navajo children, Deshauna Peshlakai and her sister Del Lynn Peshlakai were practically raised with a basketball in their hand.
Like their peers they watched as their parents and older siblings dribble a basketball from one end of the court to the other.
“The girls were practically born into basketball, they were there with us every Sunday, they started walking there then they started playing in there,” their father David Peshlakai said. “They watched other people play, that’s one of the reasons why they got to be such good basketball players, and they were exposed at an early age right after birth.”
Five years ago last month, Deshauna, 17, and Del Lynn, 19, were killed in an automobile accident after a drunken driver hit their vehicle. They were passengers and on their way back from a basketball game in Santa Fe.
After their passing, the parents hosted a basketball tournament in their honor.
“We do this just to give back, we want to spread the message out here, spread the word to not drink and drive,” David Peshlakai said.
The 4th annual Peshlakai Angels Memorial Don’t Drink and Drive Basketball Tournament was held April 1-5 at Newcomb High School. With 36 men’s teams and 20 women’s teams entered, it was by far the largest turnout of the four years it’s been held.
To read the full article, pick up your copy of the Navajo Times at your nearest newsstand Thursday mornings!
Are you a digital subscriber? Read the most recent three weeks of stories by logging in to your online account.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow