Tuba City girls upset No. 1 Chinle in Copper Bracket

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

CHINLE – The Tuba City Lady Warriors turned the tables on top-ranked Chinle, delivering a stunning 48-39 upset at the Wildcat Den on Thursday night.

After falling to Chinle in the 3A regional championship, Tuba City capitalized on sharp shooting and a quiet night from Lady Wildcats’ star Dizhoon White, who went scoreless.

Senior guard Eriana Begay led the Lady Warriors with 13 points, while sophomore Trece Tsingine added 12.

For Chinle, senior forward Qoah Yazzie poured in 19 points, with senior guards Jayden Lynch and Noelle Walker chipping in six each.

The game opened with both teams exchanging baskets, keeping the score tight. However, Tuba City found its rhythm late in the first quarter, rattling off a 7-0 run to take an 11-6 lead. The Lady Warriors spread the scoring effort across five players, while Chinle leaned on Qoah Yazzie’s four points and a bucket from senior guard Alyssa Williams.

Chinle opened the second quarter with back-to-back baskets, cutting the deficit to 11-10. But Tuba City responded with an 11-0 run, forcing a Chinle timeout. The break did little to halt Tuba City’s momentum, as the Lady Warriors maintained control, heading into halftime with a 22-14 lead.

Tsingine led Tuba City with five points in the quarter, followed by Natasha Acothley with four. For Chinle, junior forward Desiree Yazzie provided four points, while Lynch and Qoah Yazzie each added a basket.

The second half began with White still on the bench, and the Lady Warriors seized the opportunity. Tuba City outscored Chinle 21-8 in the third quarter, using a 12-2 run to blow the game open.

Begay led the charge with seven points, while Tsingine added five. Meanwhile, Chinle struggled to find an offensive spark, mustering just four baskets from four different players. By the end of the quarter, Tuba City held a commanding 44-22 lead.

Facing a 22-point deficit, the Lady Wildcats made a furious rally in the final quarter, outscoring Tuba City 17-5. 3A North Player of the Year Qoah Yazzie spearheaded the effort with 11 points, while Lynch, Walker, and Caitlyn Yazzie added to the scoring column.

However, the Lady Warriors had built enough of a cushion to cruise to victory. Senior forward Chloe Begay and Eriana Begay added a basket each, while Nez sank a free throw to seal the final score at 48-39.

Following the game, Tuba City’s head coach Michael Balcerek praised his team’s execution and defensive effort.

“We knew they were undefeated coming in. We played smart, stuck to our game plan, and grabbed every rebound,” Balcerek said. “Chinle had beaten us a few times this year, so it feels good to finally get this win and move forward.”

When asked about the Copper Bracket, he offered a candid response: “I may be new to the AIA, but I’m not new to people trying to make money. We’re not here to lose for the sake of losing. I’m not saying anyone is doing that, but we’re here to win.”

As for whether the team’s performance against Ganado helped fuel this win, he emphasized belief in his players.

“These ladies are special. Everything they’ve done this year is exactly what they should be doing—winning and playing basketball the right way,” Balcerek said. “As long as they believe in themselves, we can finish this bracket the way we want to: as champions.”

The loss knocks Chinle out of the Copper Bracket championship, but they remain the No. 1 seed in the 3A State Championship. They received a first-round bye and will face the winner of No. 9 Yuma Catholic vs. No. 8 Coolidge on Feb. 21 at the Wildcat Den.

Meanwhile, Tuba City advances to the Copper Bracket semifinals, where they will face Page at the Nash Center at Monument Valley High School in Kayenta on the same day.

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