Holbrook dominates Payson, advances to quarterfinal

By Lee Begaye
Special to the Times

HOLBROOK, Ariz. – The Holbrook Roadrunners advanced to the first round of the 3A State Boys Championship with a commanding 45-27 rout of Payson on Friday night.

Senior Tyler Tapaha led the charge with 16 points, while fellow senior Jaron Becenti contributed 10. Holbrook’s fast-tempo offense and relentless mid-court press disrupted Payson’s rhythm for most of the game.

Senior center Aldon Parsons led Payson with nine points, but the rest of the Longhorns’ roster managed no more than one field goal each.

The Roadrunners set the tone early, showcasing their defensive prowess in the first quarter by holding Payson to just two points—both from free throws—while putting up 13 of their own. Tapaha led the way with five points, and Becenti added four as Holbrook took a 13-2 lead heading into the second quarter.

Payson found some offensive momentum in the second quarter, outscoring Holbrook 13-12. Junior forward Bryson Waterman-Echols led the Longhorns with four points, while Cam Brown knocked down a 3-pointer.

On the other end, senior Chase Salabye paced the Roadrunners with five points, and senior Caleb Cummings added a 3-point field goal. Despite Payson’s push, Holbrook maintained a 25-15 lead at halftime.

Holbrook tightened its mid-court press in the third quarter, shutting down any momentum Payson had built. The Roadrunners outscored the Longhorns 15-4 in the period, with Tapaha leading the way, tallying seven points. Cummings and Becenti each added a 3-pointer.

For Payson, Parsons and Payton Stuart each contributed a two-point field goal. By the end of the third, Holbrook had stretched its lead to 40-19.

In the final frame, the Roadrunners took a more conservative approach, allowing Payson to outscore them 8-5. Despite multiple timeouts, the Longhorns couldn’t overcome the deficit.

Parsons led the quarter with two two-point field goals and a free throw, while junior guard Cadyn Sanchez knocked down a 3-pointer. For Holbrook, Becenti sank a 3-pointer, and sophomore Manny Rico added a two-point field goal.

Reflecting on the game, Holbrook coach Delmar Johnson said, “We came out strong in the beginning. Payson is aggressive, but we had the momentum playing at home. We got them out of rhythm and uncomfortable with our press, but they battled back in the second quarter.”

On his defensive strategy, he added, “We have to play one way, and that’s to get up, pressure, and make them uncomfortable. Off of that, we need to get easy buckets—layups and wide-open 3s. My post player got into foul trouble, so we switched to a zone to run the clock and get him back in later so Payson wouldn’t make a run. I’m satisfied with our win, but we can play a heck of a lot better in the next round.”

The coach also praised Tapaha’s versatility, stating, “Tapaha is my all-around player. He can do everything—from guard play to working on the wing and posting up in the paint. He’s great at bringing the ball down, penetrating the defense, and dishing it out to open players. All our plays go through him.”

As the No. 10 seed in the 3A State Championship, Holbrook will face No. 7 Coolidge on Tuesday night.

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