Overtime sinks Holbrook against Snowflake

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

HOLBROOK, Ariz. – Holbrook erased a late deficit to tie the game 47-47 on an inbound play with 12 seconds remaining, but Snowflake took control in overtime and pulled away for a 54-47 win Tuesday night in the first round of the 2026 Arizona Interscholastic Association Boys Basketball State Championships at Holbrook High School.

The Roadrunners were led by senior Travis Bia with 13 points while senior Amare Nelson added 12.

Both teams opened the first two minutes tied 3-3 before Manny Guerrero knocked down a 3-pointer to give Holbrook a 6-5 lead. The Roadrunners found an early rhythm from beyond the arc, hitting four 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 12-7 and force a Snowflake timeout at the 4:37 mark.

Holbrook added five more points out of the break to go ahead 17-7 before the Lobos responded with a 3 and a late field goal to close the quarter at 19-12. Junior Braylon Taliman and Guerrero combined for 12 points in the opening frame while Bia scored four and Nelson added a 3.

Snowflake tightened the game in the second quarter, opening on a 5-2 run before Holbrook called timeout leading 21-19. The Lobos followed with a 6-2 push to take their first lead at 25-23 with 3:07 remaining. Bia tied the game at the free-throw line before Holbrook regained a 28-25 advantage on a 3-pointer. Snowflake answered with another triple to send the teams into halftime tied 28-28. Junior Manny Rico scored four points in the quarter while Taliman added a 3 and Bia went 2-for-2 at the line.

Holbrook opened the second half with a quick 5-0 run to lead 33-28, but scoring slowed for both sides until Bia converted a layup to push the margin to seven midways through the third. Snowflake answered with four straight points to cut it to 35-32, then tied the game 35-35 after an and-one opportunity with just over a minute remaining. Holbrook responded with a late layup to carry a 37-35 lead into the fourth. Nelson scored five in the quarter while Bia added four.

The fourth quarter remained tight throughout, neither team leading by more than two points until Snowflake hit a 3 to move ahead 42-39. The Lobos later extended the lead to 47-41 with 1:39 left in regulation. Rico scored on a layup, then a Holbrook steal led to another basket to trim the deficit to 47-45.

After Snowflake missed two free throws following Bia fouling out, Holbrook called timeout with 12 seconds remaining. Nelson drove the lane and finished a layup to tie the game 47-47 and force overtime. Nelson and Rico each scored four points in the quarter while Brady Becenti added a field goal.

Overtime belonged entirely to Snowflake. Holbrook was held scoreless while the Lobos closed the game on a 7-0 run, with Clare scoring five of those points and Jhett Udall finishing with 14 overall, including four 3-pointers.

“Last time I got robbed for player of the year. My stats were obviously better but they didn’t give it to me, so tonight I showed them why I should be player of the year and our team should’ve won the region,” Clare said.

“I think we can go on a huge run. We have a lot more potential than we think and I believe we can make a run in this playoff,” he added.

Snowflake head coach Matthew Smith and Holbrook head coach Delmar Johnson weren’t available for comments.

Snowflake advances to host 15th-seeded ALA West Foothills in the quarterfinals after the Guardians upset second-seeded Payson 72-70 to earn the road trip. Holbrook finishes the season 18-10 overall and 7-3 in conference play.

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