Lady Braves avenge loss, earn first win over Lady Broncos
By Will Webber | The New MexicanPosted: 2/7/2012, 10:00 PM Mountain time
In coachspeak, it was a throwaway game.
To the players, it was all about revenge.
After dropping an 11-point decision in a hostile road environment two weeks ago at Kirtland Central, Santa Fe Indian School got a little redemption with a 76-71 nondistrict win over those same Lady Broncos on Tuesday night in the Pueblo Pavilion Wellness Center.
"This game was all about getting back at them," said Mystri Jodie, SFIS shooting guard. "That's all we thought about."
"You don't mind playing outside the district when it's a game like this," added point guard Jennifer Willie. "This was a game we wanted to play. The district games are important but this one was important, too."
SFIS (18-5) got double-figure scoring from five players and nine points from a sixth in picking up the first win in school history over Kirtland Central.
It was a banked 3-pointer from Jodie late in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter that proved to be the game-winning bucket. It erased a 62-61 Lady Broncos lead and sparked a decisive 7-0 run for the Lady Braves.
Calling most of the shots for SFIS was assistant coach Jo Jo Valdez. He was filling in for head coach Cindy Roybal for the second straight game.
Unnamed sources have said Roybal missed a recent outing against Pojoaque Valley while serving a one-game suspension for being openly critical of officials, a direct violation of New Mexico Activities Association rules.
She ceded her typical role Tuesday because she was still not at full strength after undergoing wrist surgery on Feb. 1. She was on the bench the entire game, although Valdez did most of the coaching.
"Hey," Valdez said afterward, "I'm still undefeated taking her place. I've never lost when I'm filling in for her."
By his estimation, Valdez said he is 10-0 in Roybal's stead during the latter's stints at Pojoaque Valley and now SFIS.
Tuesday's win may have been his most impressive. Kirtland Central (18-4) came into the game ranked No. 2 in the Class AAAA poll.
As most coaches can attest, the Lady Broncos -- having won 18 state championships in 29 trips to the title game over the last 33 years -- are the barometer by which all other programs are measured.
"It's a nondistrict game and I should probably say these games are hard to play, but it's Kirtland Central," Roybal said. "If you can't show up against Kirtland Central, you shouldn't be playing."
SFIS led the game for all but two minutes, forcing 18 turnovers and holding the Kirtland Central bench scoreless. The Lady Braves led by as many as 11 points in the first quarter and answered every Lady Broncos run with one of their own.
Willie and Jodie helped lead the way in the fourth quarter. Willie scored seven of her 11 points in the game's final six minutes, including a back-breaking layup with 45 seconds left that opened a 70-66 lead. Jodie followed her banked 3-pointer with two critical free throws down the stretch.
Justina Coriz had a team-high 17 points for SFIS. Her four 3s give her nine in the last two games.
Makayla Holiday had 16 points and nine rebounds while Bridget Lee had 13 points, eight boards and two blocks.
Kirtland Central got 23 points from Taylor Henderson and 22 from Darla Woody.
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