Reserves help Tsé Yi’ Gai girls to team title

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Jan 14, 2016 | Basketball |

Navajo Times | Donovan Quintero
Tsé Yi’ Gai Lady Diné Warrior Kristen Chiquito (14) races for the goal against a Mescalero Apache Lady Chief Saturday at the 5th annual Striking Eagle Native American Invitational in Albuquerque.

ALBUQUERQUE

The most valuable player in the Roadrunner bracket could not finish out the game on Saturday night.

Her teammates, however, closed out the victory in the championship game of the small schools girls bracket at the 5th annual Striking Eagle Native American Invitational as Tsé Yi’ Gai got past Mescalero Apache, 47-43.

Senior shooting guard Alex Toledo was involved in a nasty collision at midcourt with four minutes left in the contest while diving for a loose ball.

Toledo, who finished with 11 points, was then carried off the court with her team leading, 43-39. After the game she was bound to a wheelchair in what was later determined as a high ankle sprain as she celebrated with her team.

“I was scared because I thought it was a serious injury but I knew my team could carry it out,” Toledo said. “We’ve had our ups and downs in almost every game but it was good to see them finish the game without me.”

With emotions running at an all-time high, the Diné Warriors had other players that were responsible for their four-point win. Tsé Yi’ Gai basketball coach AD Nez-Begay was real impressed with how Janiece Commanche and Rosalee Salaz responded.

“I told them that this was there time,” Nez-Begay said of his sophomore players who came off the bench. “When our ball handlers went down they stepped up and we’re to the point to where we look forward to playing our bench and they always bring great energy.”