Shiprock outlasts Wingate for district championship title

SHIPROCK

It was a game that some thought both teams didn’t belong in.

The Wingate Bears had more losses than wins in the district season and the Shiprock Chieftains had some rough patches.

But regardless of what should have been, the two teams took full advantage of opportunity and met in New Mexico’s District 1-4A championships game, where Shiprock defeated Wingate, 63-60, in triple overtime.

Shiprock head coach Chester Atcitty said it was about making the right moves at the right time.

“Opportunity, opportunity. I tell you what, these boys were resilient and believed in themselves all the way down to the end and did the right thing, hung in there…”

he said. “In the closing seconds, they (Wingate) were up, regulation, first overtime, second overtime; they had the opportunity to seal it. They are a championship team, I have to give it to Wingate, they’re a classy group.”

Wingate might have had the opportune advantage throughout most of the game but Shiprock made the comebacks when it mattered.

With 56 seconds to go in regulation, Wingate had the 45-43 lead and after a couple of turnovers the ball finally ended up in the hands of Shiprock’s Elijah Harry, who put up a jump shot with eight seconds left in the game. His two points tied the game at 45 forcing the first overtime.

Wingate senior guard Kyle Begay put up the only two points for Wingate in the first OT to take the 47-45 lead but Shiprock’s Andre Joe answered back to tie the game at 47 to close the first overtime. In the second overtime, Wingate got on the board first, but Shiprock took the 51-49 lead with 38 seconds left. Shiprock came back to tie the game at 51 and closed the second overtime.

In the final overtime, both teams shared the lead before Wingate’s Begay fouled out halfway through the quarter. Shiprock had a three-point lead that Wingate cut to one at the free throw line. Wingate lost the ball and their final opportunity with seconds left before Shiprock closed in on the win.

Wingate head coach Al Martinez said his team simple didn’t take advantage of their final opportunity at the end.

“It was a great game, triple OT, couldn’t ask for anymore both teams had their chances and it kind of came down to whoever had the ball last was going to win,” he said.

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