Gallup edges Miyamura in thriller, Bruner’s 3-point play clinches 51-48 victory

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

GALLUP – It came down to the wire between rivals Gallup and Miyamura.

In a game that saw multiple lead changes and a relentless battle to the very last second, the Gallup Bengals (12-11) held on for a dramatic 51-48 victory over the Patriots (3-20) on Tuesday night.

Junior guard Jason Bruner came out as the hero, pouring in a game-high 25 points as he hit the go-ahead basket and free throw with six seconds left to lift Gallup past their district rival.

The Patriots opened the game with an early offensive surge, stringing together an 8-0 run led by sophomore guard Jordan Cadman and junior forward Jaxon Jones, who each knocked down a 3-pointer, while senior forward Brody Tah added a layup.

Gallup struggled to find its rhythm until Bruner pulled up for a jumper at the 4:28 mark to put the Bengals on the board. While the Bengals relied solely on Bruner’s eight first-quarter points, Miyamura’s points was spread across five players—Cadman, Jones, Tah, senior forward Antwon Lahi, and junior forward Ayden Nevayaktewa—combining for 16 points to take an early 16-8 lead.

Gallup found its footing in the second quarter, outscoring the Patriots 17-11 behind Bruner’s five mid-range jumpers. Junior guard Joshua Keeto and junior forward Kelton Edison also contributed, helping the Bengals claw back.

Meanwhile, Miyamura stayed competitive with Lahi leading the charge, knocking down a 3-pointer and a layup. Jones, Nevayaktewa, and Tah each added two points, but Gallup closed the gap to 27-25 at halftime.

The third quarter saw another narrow Gallup advantage as they outscored Miyamura, 14-12. Edison led the way with a crucial two-point basket and went 2-for-4 from the line. Keeto and sophomore wing Hanson Atazhoon each knocked down a shot from beyond the arc, while Bruner and senior forward Cyril Johnson added a bucket each.

On the other end, Tah carried the Patriots, scoring six points with a mix of inside shots and free throws. Cadman added two field goals and an and-one, keeping Miyamura in the game. By the end of the quarter, the Bengals had erased their early deficit, tying things up at 39-39 heading into the final frame.

The final quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams refusing to back down. The Bengals edged out the Patriots 12-9 in the period, but it wasn’t until the final seconds that the game was decided.

Both teams traded baskets, with Gallup taking a slim two- and three-point leads multiple times, only for Miyamura to claw back and tie it up. With time winding down and the game deadlocked, Bruner took control. He broke away for two fast-break layups, drawing a foul on the second with just six seconds left. With the game hanging in the balance, Bruner calmly knocked down the and-one free throw, sealing the 51-48 victory for Gallup.

After the game, Gallup head coach Ryan Becenti reflected on the team’s ability to rally from behind.

“I felt pretty good about it. I thought our kids kept the energy up, stayed locked into the game, and that’s what allowed us to come back,” Becenti said. “They just kept playing, focusing on the next play, believing in each other, and giving that confidence to each other. That was big for us in fighting back.”

With the district tournament on the horizon, Becenti emphasized the importance of playing their style of basketball.

“We’ve got to try to play defense, rebound, and push the pace. If we can get teams into our style of basketball—up and down the court and getting stops on defense—we’ll be in a good position,” he said. “I know Bloomfield is playing tough, and even though our records don’t show it, our district is full of tough teams. If we can execute, we should be alright.”

The Bengals now turn their focus to their final three games of the regular season. They will host Bloomfield on Friday before facing Shiprock on Feb. 18. They’ll close the season on the road against Aztec on Feb. 21.

Miyamura, meanwhile, will also wrap up its schedule with three home games, taking on Kirtland Central, Bloomfield, and Shiprock.

---