Final four set: Rezbombers surge toward NABI championship

By Lee Begaye
Special to the Times

PHOENIX

The 2025 NABI field has narrowed to the final four teams in both the girls and boys divisions as championship Saturday approaches at the Phoenix Arena, formerly known as the Footprint Center.

This year’s Native American Basketball Invitational brought 200 teams, 112 boys and 92 girls squads, from across the United States and Canada to compete on one of the biggest Native basketball stages.

Benally sisters power girls Rezbombers into semifinals

Among the top four on the girls’ side are the Rezbombers, a loaded squad featuring standout talent from Arizona and New Mexico. The team is anchored by players with state championship experience, including Sydney Benally, a 2025 NMAA 5A state champion and Brigham Young University signee, and her younger sister, sophomore Kaiyah Benally.

The backcourt is bolstered by 4A state champion graduate Riley Whitehair and junior Kayden Tsosie of Gallup High. Also contributing are Kirtland Central sophomore sensation Allyson Tsosie, senior Krista Tsingine-Yazzie, Farmington senior Kjani Anitielu, and Chinle graduate Dizhoon White.

The Rezbombers blazed through pool play, beginning with a dominant 110–20 win over A:SHIWI from Zuni. It followed up with a 68–20 victory over Dreamcatcher from Washington State, setting up a marquee matchup against Team 928, a squad loaded with talent from Window Rock, Tohatchi, Ganado, Chinle, and Monument Valley.

The Rezbombers made quick work of them as well, cruising to a 69–20 win. Kaiyah Benally led all scorers with 18 points, 13 of which came in the first half. Allyson Tsosie added 15 points, including three 3-pointers, and Sydney Benally chipped in 10.

Team 928 and Diné Bombers fall to dominant Rezbombers

For Team 928, Ganado graduate Faith James led with 12 points. Tohatchi graduate and New Mexico Highlight signee Wynter Rose Sheka added 5, while Chinle graduate Jayden Lynch and Ganado senior Jasah McIntosh contributed 4 each.

The Rezbombers closed out the night with a 70–36 win over the Diné Bombers to remain the lone girls team representing the Southwest in the semifinals. Kaiyah Benally poured in 25 points, 14 in the first half and 11 in the second, while Sydney added 17, Allyson 10, Kjani 7, and Dizhoon 6. For the Diné Bombers, Chandler senior Markayla Shirley led with 14 points, Kirtland Central’s Haylee Nocki added 6, and Gallup junior Summer Joe scored 4.

Rounding out the girls’ final four are the RockHawks from Montana, Quiet Storm from North Dakota, and Legendary Elite from Oklahoma.

Boys Rezbombers roll through pool play

In the boys bracket, the Rezbombers also advanced to the semifinals with a series of impressive wins. It opened with a 94–40 victory over the San Carlos Apache on Friday morning, then edged the Northern Cheyenne Rez Runners 50–38 at noon. Later in the day, it defeated the Young Runners of Oklahoma 79–53 and capped tournament play with an 83–58 win over the Wolves from Canada, a physically imposing team that struggled to contain the Rezbombers’ precision shooting.

The boys Rezbombers is led by Navajo Prep graduate guard Zavier Nez and a cast of sharpshooting talent.

Joining them in the final four are the Thorpe Family team from South Dakota, representing the Oglala Lakota, along with the Young Gunz of Arizona and Pack, a team composed of players from the Standing Rock Sioux, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, Oglala Nation, Cheyenne River Sioux, and Spirit Lake tribes.

Semifinals set for showdown at Phoenix Arena

Saturday’s semifinal matchups at Phoenix Arena begin with Quiet Storm vs. Legendary Elite in the girls’ division, followed by the boys Rezbombers squaring off against the Thorpe Family squad. At noon, the girls’ Rezbombers face the RockHawks. The final boys’ semifinal, Young Gunz vs. Pack, tips off at 1:30 p.m.

Championship games will be held Saturday evening, with the boys’ title game tipping at 3:30 p.m., followed by the girls final at 5 p.m.

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