Lady Bruins take down Red Mesa

POLACCA, Arizona — Keesha Talayumptewa poured in 22 points as Hopi High slowly pulled away against a stubborn Red Mesa club to defeat the Lady Redskins, 66-52, in girls high school basketball action Wednesday, December 20.

Hopi snapped a five game losing streak and improved to 8-7, including a 2-0 mark in the 2A North.

Talayumptewa was the lone Lady Bruin in double figures, but she had plenty of help as eight other Hopi High players scored, including five others with six points or more. Chassity Gould netted eight, Tara Secakuku scored seven and Marie Koopee, Hannah Honani and Jyette Yoyokie added a half dozen points each.

Elisa Betsini topped Red Mesa with 20, Sandy Howard netted 17 and Jodie Joe added seven.

Talayumtewa tossed in a half dozen points and Yoyokie and Honani netted four each as Hopi led 18-15 after the first quarter. Betsini poured in eight points during the period to keep Red Mesa right on Hopi’s heels.

Secakuku led the way with four points in the second stanza. Kim Zahne and Gould scored three each as Hopi led 36-31 at intermission. Red Mesa stayed close with Howard scoring seven points and Robin Benally five during the quarter.

Hopi put the game away in the third quarter. Secakuku hit a trey and Talayumptewa sank a rebound shot to give the Lady Bruins a 41-31 lead.

After Betsini interrupted with a rebound shot, Hopi went on a seven point tear: Talayumptewa and Zondra “Big Z” Mahle sank lay-ups, Talayumptewa connected on a free throw and Koopee hit a rebound shot for a 48-33 Hopi bulge. Red Mesa wasn’t quite through as Betsini hit a trey and Joe sank a lay-up to pull the Redskins within 58-48. Big Z hit a lay-up with 12 seconds left as the Lady Bruins led by a dozen going into the final quarter.

Talayumptewa scored five points and Big Z four in the third quarter when Hopi pulled away. Red Mesa wouldn’t get closer than six pints in the final period.

Red Mesa made a final run at the start of the fourth quarter by outscoring Hopi, 8-2. Joe started it with a lay-up, Betsini sank a pair of lay-ups sandwiched around a lay-up by Hopi’s Talayumptewa and Betsini added a jumper as the Lady Redskins were within 52-46 with five minutes left in the game.

Gould hit a trey and Talayumptewa sank two foul shots as Hopi extended the lead to 57-46, but Howard hit another three-pointer to pull Red Mesa within 57-49 with 4:05 to go.

Hopi put the game out of reach by scoring the next nine pints: Honani hit a trey. Yoyokie sank two free throws, Talayumptewa tossed in a lay-up and Gould closed out the Lady Bruin scoring with a lay-up as Hopi led 66-49 with 2:12 to go.

Red Mesa had to settle for a foul by Joe and a rebound shot by Betsini as Hopi ran out the clock with its passing.

Hopi High Coach Rick Baker said it was nice to get a win especially in conference play— after five straight losses.

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