Lady Braves Rout Elkettes 64-39
Santa Fe Indian School showed why they’re the defending state champs when they exploded for 22 second quarter points on their way to a 64-39 District 5AAA victory over Pojoaque Saturday night in Ben Lujan Gymnasium.
The Lady Braves second quarter statistics tells the story: they made 10-of-12 free throws, went 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, while committing just three turnovers.
JoJo Valdez, SFIS assistant coach, coached the Lady Braves in the absence of head coach Cindy Roybal. Asked why Roybal wasn’t coaching, SFIS athletic director Tom Shields said Roybal’s absence was an internal matter. Valdez and other sources said she was at home recovering from a wrist operation, while an informed anonymous source said she was suspended for a game because she criticized the referees in a statement to the press after the Lady Braves lost to Hope Christian.
When Pojoaque’s Cheyenne Cordova scored a bucket with 53.6 seconds left in the first quarter, it tied the score at 12-12. SFIS made four points in the final 50 seconds to take a 16-12 lead they never relinquished.
Santa Fe Indian School (17-5, 3-1 District 5AAA) made 15-of-19 free throws and seven 3-pointers. Jodie Mystri led SFIS with 17 points, 11 of which she scored in the second quarter. Sharpshooter Justina Coriz dropped five 3s on her way to a 15 point game and Willie Jennifer scored 13 from her point guard position.
Cheyenne Cordova was the only Elkette in double digits with 15 points.
Pojoaque (10-13, 1-4 District 5AAA) hosts St. Michael’s of Thursday, February 9 at 7 p.m.
