Tuba City boys face stiff challenge

CHINLE

In a marquee matchup the Tuba City boys’ basketball team got a chance to test itself.

The Warriors played a tall and talented Agua Fria squad in the championship game of the Coca Cola Classic on Saturday night at the Wildcat Den in Chinle.

Tuba City dug itself in an early hole and that proved to be a difference as the Warriors dropped a 95-67 decision against an Owl team that was ranked as high as No. 5 in a recent statewide Division II poll.

“This wasn’t the outcome we wanted but we learned a lot about ourselves,” Tuba City coach Ryan Brown said. “Credit Agua Fria. They’re a big and athletic team.”

Even in a loss like that, Brown said it served as a measuring stick and compared the matchup like a state playoff game.

“This is a matchup that we could face come state tournament time,” he said. “Hopefully we can prepare for situations like this.”

The Warriors will get another test when they host Dysart on Jan. 8 after the Christmas break.

After opening the game with a three-point shot from sophomore guard Joey Mathis, the Warriors ran into a wall, as they could not keep pace with the Owls. With a defense that did not give up an inch, Agua Fria ran off the next 18 points.

Senior guard Jordan McCants and 6-6 senior post Darnell Cowart combined for 10 points during that run. The athletic McCants was later named the tournament’s MVP after scoring a game-best 26 points.

“That is what we try to do,” Agua Fria coach Randy Lavender said. “I know that we have the size and the speed, so we like to press team to keep them off-balance. My bigs can run down the court and my guards can go all day. That was one of the keys in the game.”

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