Thursday, March 28, 2024

Round Valley Roundball Shootout: Shorthanded Holbrook wins back-to-back crowns

Round Valley Roundball Shootout: Shorthanded Holbrook wins back-to-back crowns

EAGER, Ariz.

The last thing Holbrook hoops coach Delmar Johnson wanted was another injured player.

The Roadrunners played without senior guard Noah Brown in the championship game of the Round Valley Roundball Shootout.

With Brown being sidelined due to an ankle sprain, Holbrook leaned Brandon Tapaha and Quentin Thomas as the two seniors helped the Johnson-coached team to 65-35 win over Safford, earning the team’s second consecutive title at the Round Valley tournament.

Navajo Times | Quentin Jodie
Holbrook Roadrunner Noah Brown goes up for a shot against the Leading Edge Academy Spartans. The Roadrunners captured the Round Valley Roundball Shootout for the second year in a row.

“I thought we played great, playing a game without Noah Brown,” Johnson said. “He didn’t play at all in the championship game, and I thought Brandon Tapaha and Quentin Thomas stepped up for us as leaders to give us the 30-point win.

“I’m happy that we won the championship again, but we didn’t escape the injury bug,” he added.

The injury to Brown has been an unwelcome nuisance for the Roadrunners, a team that returns nine seniors from last year’s 3A state semifinal playoff run.

Despite running its record to 13-2 overall, the Roadrunners have yet to suit up sophomore starting post Tyler Tapaha and key reserves Kyle Smith and Stan Bain this season.

The trio, Johnson said, are expected to be back in early January.

“I’ll be glad when we get Tyler back because we actually get points through him at the post,” Johnson said. “He can step out and shoot the 3 and he can do different things.

“He makes us more of a balanced team,” he added.

Luckily for the Roadrunners, they are off until Jan. 5 when they host Round Valley in a non-region game.

“We got time to get them up to speed,” Johnson said of three players out. “We want to get them back healthy and I’m looking forward to the Christmas break.

“We’re not in shape the way I expect us to be, but the time off is gonna help us,” he said.

Once he get his full crew back, Johnson said the potential of this team is limitless, as the Roadrunners are looking to make another deep playoff run.

“I’m excited about my team, especially with the things that we can possible do once we get healthy,” he said.

“Our expectations are the same as last year,” Brown said. “We want to make the final four and go further, all the way to state championship game.”

Thomas said losing the state semifinal game to Coolidge last season made them more hungry to reach the title game.

“Basically, we played throughout the summer,” he said. “We played in a lot of tournaments and we played together all summer.”

As a guard-oriented team, the two players said they like to penetrate and kick the ball out for its scoring opportunities.

“We like to shoot the 3s,” Brown said. “But it’s more of us driving and kicking, and playing unselfish.”

Defensively, the Holbrook coach said they like to dictate the pace on that end.

“We like to get out and pressure, and speed the game up,” he said. “We try to wear teams down, and get steals and get layups.”

Brown agreed.

“If we can play defense, get rebounds and get our running game we’re good,” he said.

The two blemishes this season came at the Ben Franklin tournament during the Thanksgiving break. Holbrook came up short to a pair of 3A teams in Fountain Hills (67-31) and Gilbert Christian (53-47).

“I have to give Fountain Hills credit,” Johnson said. “They came out and played hard and they did what they were supposed to do.

“I think we came out a little scared and that was the first time we played with the shot clock, but I’m not gonna make any excuses.

“Fountain Hills came out and they just clobbered us,” he added. “They played very aggressive on the offensive and defensive end, and I don’t thing we played aggressive and when you’re not making shots you’re going to struggle.”

“They humbled us,” Brown chined in. “It gave us an idea of where we’re at and it was something we can learn from.”

On Jan. 5, Holbrook will play at 3A powerhouse Valley Christian before they start region play with Blue Ridge on Jan. 10.

The Blue Ridge game will be followed by four straight 3A East Region games with Show Low (Jan. 13), Winslow (Jan. 19), Snowflake (Jan. 24) and Payson (Jan. 27).

“Snowflake is going to be tough,” Johnson said. “Blue Ridge and Payson is going to be tough. Show Low might be down a little bit, but you can’t anybody out. Winslow is going to be much improved. You know, things change are gonna change, so I’m not going to count nobody out.”


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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