Navajo-Hopi Observer

POLACCA-Courtney Outie fired in 23 points as Hopi High beat Blue Ridge, 72-62, in girls basketball action Dec. 12 at Hopi. With this win, Hopi improved to 4-4.

Outie had plenty of help as Samantha Lucas tossed in 14 points, Nadia Nelson netted 11, Marlieta Burbank pitched in with eight, Nichole Kisto and Brittany Begay added six points apiece and Amanda Clark had a deuce.

Samantha Dewey topped Blue Ridge with 16 points, Rae Tenvieth poured in a dozen points, Raelynn Johnson netted 11 points, Nicole Parrack tossed in seven,

Tawnie Stephenson pitched in with six points, Janie Lee London scored five, Hannah Brown finished with four and Kristen Rydbers sank a foul shot.

Hopi led by five going into the final period, but pulled away thanks to the play of Outie, Lucas and Nelson. Outie fired in nine points, Lucas poured in eight and Nelson netted five during the crucial fourth quarter.

Hopi started off on the right foot as the Lady Bruins grabbed a 24-19 edge after the first period. Outie netted nine points in the first period while Kisto added six and Burbank tossed in four. Tenvieth scored five and Dewey four in the first quarter to keep Blue Ridge close.

Nelson and Burbank tossed in four points apiece for the Lady Bruins during the second period as Hopi led 38-33 at intermission.

Begay scored a half dozen points in the third quarter to keep the Hopi momentum going.

Hopi led by as much as 15 points in the final quarter before Blue Ridge attempted a rally, but they never came closer than 10 points in the last five and a half minutes.