Red Valley-Cove evens record with win over Shiprock Northwest

SHIPROCK

Tuesday night was all about testing the water when it came to the Shiprock Northwest vs. Red Valley/Cove boy’s basketball game.

Both teams were still getting their feet wet and used the game as a way to measure where they stand.

Red Valley/Cove opened their season the week before with a loss but they evened their season at 1-1 by collecting a 57-30 win over Shiprock Northwest.

Red Valley/Cove head coach Lee Zhonnie said with a young group, they’re simply testing the waters.

“We’re trying to get everybody together to play as a family and play good defense and offense,” he said. “These are very young guys, this is their first time they’re getting their feet wet to understand the level of the game, the tempo of the game.”

The Miners jumped out front and took a 17-7 lead over the Falcons and extended their lead in the second quarter to 35-16 going into the half.

The final two quarters were mirror images of the first two as the Miners led 42-23 in the third and 57-30 for the final. Shiprock Northwest got a few looks but for every one Falcon bucket, the Miners scored two or three more.

Shiprock Northwest head coach Devon Lapahie said he didn’t expect much from his inexperienced team. Having to forfeit their season opener due to low numbers, he said he wanted to see what they could do.

“I know some of them haven’t played, one of them this is (his) first time playing since he was 10,” he said. “I’m just trying to get a feel for what I got to work on, and I see I have a lot of work with rebounding, making better passes, better choices and getting used to running the offense…”

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