Hopi girls beat Window Rock

WINDOW ROCK-Nadia Nelson fired in 19 points as Hopi High beat Window Rock, 62-56, Feb. 6 in the opening round of the 3A North girls basketball tournament.

Nelson had plenty of help as Courtney Outie poured in 16 points. Samantha Lucas pitched in with 11, Amanda Clark, Marleita Burbank, Cassandra Nash and Annalese Nasafotie tossed in four points apiece and Lisa Attakai added a deuce. Outie led Hopi with 10 rebounds and Nelson came up with 11 steals.

Charmayne Smith topped Window Rock with 15 points, Latiaja Johnson pitched in with 11 points, Tiffany Roanhorse and Brittany Tabor sank seven points apiece,

Myra Watchman added a half dozen points, Raquel King finished with four, Tonia Hatathlie, Natashia Slinkey and Fallywhite Henderson added a deuce each.

Nelson netted seven points in the opening period as Hopi grabbed a 17-15 edge. King countered with four points for Window Rock to keep the Lady Scouts close.

Nelson and Outie both poured in six points during the second quarter as the Lady Bruins led at intermission 34-25.

Smith and Johnson netted four points apiece during the third period for Window Rock as the Lady Scouts pulled within five points with a score of 42-37.

Nelson tossed in six points and Outie and Lucas scored five each in the fourth quarter as Hopi eventually grabbed the victory. Smith fired in seven points for Window Rock in the final period to keep the Lady Scouts close.

Hopi High Coach Ben Willey noted that the Lady Bruins had 29 turnovers, but only 12 after intermission. Hopi also had 22 steals.

"We played okay, but there's room for improvement," he said.

Window Rock beat Hopi twice during the season. Coach Willey said the difference is that this time the Lady Bruins played tough, hard-nosed defense.

"We pressured the ball more. We didn't go for steals, but we pressured them into making bad passes," he said.

Coach Willey credited Amanda Clark with leading the defense.

"Amanda hustled and took the ball away from their big girl," he said.

Coach Willey said Hopi shot 37 percent from the field. "That's good," he said.

Coach Willey said Window Rock had more rebounds than Hopi, but added that the Lady Bruins did well on the defensive boards.

Donate to nhonews.com Report a Typo Contact
Most Read