Tuba City girls reach title game; Lady Warriors overcomes sluggish start to upend Payson in semis – Navajo Times

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Navajo Times | Quentin Jodie
Tuba City Lady Warrior Kiyanna Susanyatame (11) attempts a layup while Payson’s Chloe Hancock gives chase on Friday night at Higley High School in Gilbert, Ariz. Tuba City advanced to the championship game in the Epic Tourneys New Year’s Classic with a 41-29 win.
Posted by Quentin Jodie | Dec 30, 2023 | News |
GILBERT, Ariz.
Defensively, the Tuba City girls basketball team were locked in.
The offense, however, had to come around as the Lady Warriors pulled away from Payson, 41-29, on Friday night during the Epic Tourneys New Year’s Classic at Higley High School in Gilbert, Arizona.
Tuba City trailed 6-1 after the opening stanza, but in the next three quarters, they put up 40 points.
“In the first half, we created 19 turnovers, and we didn’t cash in on any of them,” longtime Tuba City coach Kim Williams said. “I don’t know if we were trying too hard or if it was the meal we ate, but they found a way to come back.”
Tuba City was paced by junior Eriana Begay and sophomore Aubrey Begaye, who finished with 11 points each. Sophomore Justice Nez added eight.
Navajo Times | Quentin Jodie
Tuba City’s Aubrey Begay (10) protects the ball away from guarding Payson player Alondra Ramirez Friday night during the Epic Tourneys New Year’s Classic in Gilbert, Ariz.
“We just couldn’t break down their zone (defense),” Eriana Begay said of the team’s stagnant start. “We were basically standing around, and we weren’t communicating on the court.
“We just didn’t play our game,” she added.
The 12-point win sends Tuba City into today’s championship game in the Knight bracket as the Williams-coached squad will take on hosting team Higley High at 4:30 p.m.
The Higley matchup will be Tuba City’s second time facing a 6A program at the Epic Tourneys as the Warriors defeated Mesa Desert Ridge, 51-46, on Thursday night.
“We gotta be consistent,” Williams said of today’s matchup. “We were a little inconsistent with Payson. You know, it was like night and day in that first half, so we can’t have a poor shooting night.”
The Window Rock, Many Farms, and Valley Sanders girls also made the championship game in their respective brackets, with all finals being played at 4:30 p.m. at various sites.
Window Rock defeated Buckeye, 59-37, in its semifinals on Friday night to reach today’s Tiger bracket championship game.
Window Rock takes on host team Gilbert High.
Many Farms is playing Gilbert Leading Edge Academy for the Charger championship trophy at Franklin High School. On Friday, the Lady Lobos outlasted Ben Franklin by a 49-47 count.
In the Coyote bracket, Valley Sanders advanced with a 46-43 win over Tucson Sabino in Friday’s semi. The Lady Pirates take on the host team, Mesa Skyline, a 6A school.
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Quentin Jodie is the Sports Editor for the Navajo Times. He started working for the Navajo Times in February 2010 and was promoted to the Sports Editor position at the end of summer in 2012. Previously, he wrote for the Gallup Independent. Reach him at qjodie@navajotimes.com
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