Last year, Alchesay didn’t have a basketball season due to COVID-19 shutting down the Fort Apache Reservation. Now, they’re 3A state champions.
Last year, Whiteriver Alchesay didn’t have a basketball season. With the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down the Fort Apache Reservation, the Falcons were unable to so much as practice.
With the clock running out in overtime, Lashante Benalley had the look Chinle wanted. Off a kickout from Ashlyn Lynch, she spotted up for an open three on the left wing. In the air, it looked good. The near-sellout crowd dominated by Alchesay’s blue and yellow fell silent. Finally, at the bottom of its arc, the shot clanged back iron. After weathering a temporary moment of disbelief, the Falcons sprinted to midcourt, where they celebrated in a scrum, chants of “Al-che-say” and “We’re number one” filling Arizona Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum.Midway through the first quarter, that outcome was slipping through Alchesay’s grasp. Four and a half minutes into the game, the Falcons were forced into an early timeout, down 13-0.
Alchesay’s second quarter push set the stage for a back-and-forth second half in which neither team led by more than six until the Falcons took a 49-42 lead with just 4:39 left.With Sanchez opting to rely on his starters, Alchesay got tired. That, combined with a slew of missed free throws, enabled Chinle to tie the game at 58 on a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left.