Tohatchi dominates Thoreau, sets sights on Navajo Prep in District playoffs
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Thoreau’s Kayliegh Dodge, middle, looks for a teammate to throw the ball to as Tohatchi Lady Cougars Maddie Pasquale (14) and Ameia Bia (12) team up to guard her on Wednesday night in Tohatchi.
TOHATCHI
The Tohatchi Lady Cougars delivered a commanding performance on Wednesday night, defeating the Thoreau Lady Hawks 51-39 in a District 1-AAA girls’ basketball tournament matchup. The victory propels Tohatchi into a highly anticipated showdown with Navajo Prep in the next round of the district playoffs.
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Tohatchi Lady Cougar WynterRose Sheka, left, maneuvers to keep the ball in play as Thoreau Lady Hawk Colleen Moses-Perry (22) looks on in Tohatchi on Wednesday night.
Tohatchi head coach Tanisha Bitsoi praised her team’s effort, emphasizing their resilience and balanced scoring.
“The ladies gave us their best match, their best effort,” Bitsoi said after the game.
Despite some early struggles with shots not falling, Bitsoi encouraged her players at halftime to stay aggressive and maintain their defensive intensity. The Lady Cougars responded in the second half, gradually pulling away from Thoreau.
“Every night it could be someone else … that’s the beauty of this team, they’re all capable of scoring,” Bitsoi said, highlighting the depth of her roster.
Thoreau, led by head coach Joe Hernandez, fought hard but struggled to match Tohatchi’s offensive firepower. Hernandez, who has only been at the helm for four months, acknowledged the challenge of facing a well-coached and experienced team.
“Tohatchi is a little bit better than us,” Hernandez said. “I think this is the toughest district in basketball. I think we did well. I mean, it’s a battle every night. If you don’t show up and play, you’re going to get beat.”
He also recognized the leadership of Bitsoi, who has guided the Lady Cougars for 13 seasons.
“I tip my hat off to them,” he said.
Tohatchi’s defense played a crucial role in the victory, limiting Thoreau’s offensive production, particularly in the fourth quarter when the Lady Hawks managed only two points. Meanwhile, Tohatchi’s offensive attack was led by standout performances from Anessa Johnson, Daillah Tsosie, and Hailey GrayMountain.
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Tohatchi Lady Cougar Shylynn Johnson (30) shoots the ball for the basket against Thoreau Lady Hawk Kayliegh Dodge (34) on Wednesday night during the District 1AAA girls basketball playoff game in Tohatchi.
With the win, Tohatchi now turns its focus to a familiar foe — the Navajo Prep Lady Eagles. The Lady Cougars have already faced two tough losses against the Lady Eagles during the regular season, but Bitsoi believes her team has yet to reach its peak.
“We haven’t played our best basketball yet,” she said. “If we do the little things we talk about in our locker room, it’ll be just fine.”
As the playoffs continue, Tohatchi will look to build on its momentum and take another step toward a deep postseason run in the competitive District 1-AAA.
Tohatchi travels to Farmington on Friday where Navajo Prep will host its championship game at 6 p.m.
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