Local basketball teams play 21 games over holiday break as region play approaches

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
During the two weeks from December 19 to December 30 that were supposed to provide time off for the Christmas break, local high school basketball teams played no less than 21 games on the hardwood.
Monument Valley Girls
The Monument Valley girls had the best run with three wins and one loss. On December 19 the Cougars led from start to finish in a 76-25 domination at Water Canyon.
Shimequa Hudson led Monument Valley scoring with 17 points, Shikeeya Hudson added 16, and Lillianna Fatt poured in ten.
Just two days after Christmas the Cougars headed to Albuquerque for the 11th annual Striking Eagle Native American Invitational (SENAI) at the University of New Mexico.
The annual tournament began in 2011 with 24 teams. This year’s edition featured 60 teams from 23 Native American tribes in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
The Cougars opened the tournament with a 40-30 win over Alamo Navajo on Tuesday, December 27. This time Alyah Blackwater led Monument Valley scoring with 15 on the night.
On Wednesday, December 28 the Cougars came up against a tough Santa Fe Indian team. The Braves opened a 16-2 lead in the first quarter and it looked like they would run away with it.
The Cougars scored 14 in the second quarter but still trailed 33-16 at the half. But Monument Valley came out with a purpose in the second half, outscoring Santa Fe Indian 13-9 in the third quarter and 18-8 in the fourth.
The impressive rally fell just three points short as the Cougars suffered their fourth loss of the season 50-47. Blackwater was again very strong for Monument Valley, scoring 21 points in the loss.
The Cougars bounced back for a convincing 67-48 win over Cuba in their final game of the tourney on Thursday, December 29. Three girls scored double digits for Monument Valley in the win.
Shimequa Hudson led the way with 16 points, Blackwater got 15, and Raemi Nez scored ten. Heading into 2023 the Cougars are 7-4, ranked #4 in the 1A RPI standings. They’ll play their first game of the new year at home against Green River on Tuesday, January 10.
San Juan and Monticello Boys
The San Juan and Monticello boys teams squared off for their annual pre-Christmas rivalry matchup on December 20 in Monticello. Coming into the game the Buckaroos had won three of four while the Broncos had lost three of four.
Rivalry games are always fun battles where school size, streaks, and expectations go out the window. This one was no exception as the teams battled back and forth for nearly three quarters before San Juan finally started to get some distance on the Bucks.
The Broncos opened the scoring with a Jerzy Nieves three, then maintained the lead for the entire game. Monticello stayed in the hunt though, pulling to within two points after trailing by ten in the second quarter.
San Juan led 25-20 at the half, but the Buckaroos opened the scoring in the second half on a Tommy Sheeran bucket to pull back to within three. From that point the Broncos went on an 11-2 run to establish the double-digit lead they would hold for the duration.
Monticello fought valiantly, leaving it all on the court, but San Juan simply outlasted them in a 62-47 victory. Despite the loss, it’s a game that made Buckaroo Head Coach Josh Keyes proud of his team’s effort, and one he said will make them better for the remainder of the season.
Bronco Head Coach Jeff Johnson said it was the first time this season his team was able to “do what they wanted to do” in their very solid second half. The key was strong three-point shooting, as the team finished 42 percent from beyond the arc.
San Juan senior Jerzy Nieves led all scorers with 22 points in the win. Garrett Young scored 11 points for the Broncos and Collin Baker added ten.
Tommy Sheeran led the way for Monticello with 14 points. Easton Young and Donny Atwood scored nine apiece for the Buckaroos.
That was the final game of 2022 for Monticello. The Bucks enter 2023 with three wins and six losses. They’re ranked 17th in the 1A RPI standings, but opened the new year in Moab on Tuesday, January 3, too late for our press deadline.
The Broncos, on the other hand, didn’t have much of a Christmas break. On Wednesday, December 28 they packed their bags and headed to Cedar City for the annual Steve Hodson Cancer Classic at Canyon View High School.
It was a tough trip with the boys suffering three straight losses to Canyon View, Panguitch, and Millard. San Juan closed out 2022 with a 4-8 record and they’re ninth in the 2A RPI standings.
The Broncos will open 2023 at home against Emery on Wednesday, January 4. The game will be broadcast live on Redrock 92 Radio with streaming video on pictureitpalmer.com.
The team hits the road this weekend for a Region 19 doubleheader against Parowan and Kanab Friday and Saturday, January 6-7. Those games will also be live on Redrock 92 and pictureitpalmer.com.
Whitehorse Boys
The Whitehorse boys opened the SENAI in Albuquerque with a hard-fought 60-57 win over Cuba on December 27 but suffered losses to Santa Fe Indian and Bosque to close out the tournament December 28 and 29.
Despite the losses the Raiders are just two games under .500 to close out 2022 at 5-7. They’re the top-ranked San Juan County 1A boys team in a respectable 12th place.
Whitehorse opens the 2023 portion of their schedule at home against Green River this Friday, January 6.
Monument Valley Boys
The Monument Valley boys went 1-2 at the SENAI tournament with a win by forfeit over Tierra Encantada and losses to Santa Fe Indian and Cuba.
The Cougars are 3-6 entering 2023 ranked 16th in the 1A RPI standings. They open the new year at home against Green River on Tuesday, January 10.
San Juan and Whitehorse Girls
The San Juan and Whitehorse girls both suffered three losses at their respective tournaments over the Christmas break – the Broncos at the Steve Hodson Cancer Classic in Cedar City and the Raiders at the SENAI in Albuquerque.
San Juan lost to Grantsville, Stansbury, and Spanish Fork. The Whitehorse losses came against Santa Fe Indian, Alamo Navajo, and a close one to Bernalillo.
The Broncos are 3-6 on the year, ranked 15th in the 2A RPI standings while the Raiders are 1-7 ranked 16th in 1A.
The teams opened 2023 against each other with a local showdown in Blanding on Tuesday, January 3, too late for our press deadline.
Monticello Girls
The Monticello girls are the one local basketball team that actually got to enjoy the full blessings of the Christmas break. They haven’t played since December 17 and closed out 2022 with a 2-6 record, ranked 19th in the 1A standings.
The Buckaroos are back on the court this Thursday, January 5 when they head to Moab to take on the Grand County Red Devils.