Bobcats top Chieftains for Webb Toyota title

 

The championship game of the Webb Toyota 2008 Basin Tourney was a showdown between former district competitors Shiprock and Bloomfield.

The Bobcats came away with the title in a 58-46 defensive battle Saturday.

When both teams closing down the inside, only the outside was open and it became a shooters' game.

Bloomfield knocked down a three and Shiprock answered with two of their own. At the end of the quarter it was the Bobcats grabbing the early advantage, 14-8, behind a pair of treys from Luis Vallaneva. Vallaneva finished with 15 points to lead his team, including a 9-for-10 performance at the line in the fourth.

"This is the first time I've won a championship game in a tournament," Vallaneva said. "We had to really play defense. Basketball is all about defense.  We also had to execute on the offensive end."

Both teams showed patience and tough defense again in the second period and Shiprock edged out Bloomfield for the lead going into the locker room, 22-20.

In the third period, it was Bloomfield who finally established an inside game, grabbing the advantage behind three layups and five boards from Cade Payne. Payne finished with 12 points, with teammates Matt Crockett and Sebastian Russell both added 10 points.

"It was exciting," Crockett said. "We came out the second half and got the stops and were able to score."

Shiprock made five from downtown in the fourth, but it wasn't enough as they gave up 17 of 20 at the charity stripe down the stretch.

Wahnee downed two in the final quarter for the Chieftains to finish with 10 points, while teammate Devon Lapahie added his third of the night for a game-high 16 points.

"It was an exciting game," Lapahie said.  "We had some open looks on the outside."

Lapahie added it was a challenge to get around the quick Bobcat defense.

"It was a hard one to lose after two really close wins," Lapahie noted. "This was our first time in the championship game at this tournament."

The Bobcats, leading by one going into the final period, went on a 9-0 run early in the period for a 41-34 lead with 4:20 remaining. While both teams continued to play tough defense, the Bobcats were able to capitalize off their transition game.

"Shiprock is plenty capable with their perimeter game,"  Bloomfield coach Steve Scott said. "We shot (our free throws) today. The guys stepped up tonight."

Bloomfield's run, however, didn't start until after Wahnee down a trey for the Chieftains to start the fourth and put Shiprock back in the lead. The lead didn't hold and Bloomfield never scored again from the field.

However, Shiprock continued fouling to try to get the ball back, and that fouling put Bloomfield on the line 10 times for 17 points.

"It was back and forth," Shiprock coach Cliff Johns said. "We were trailing most of the game. We made a run and the guys gave a good effort. Bloomfield had a good inside game. Right now we're working on developing our inside game."

In earlier tournament action, Bloomfield advanced with a 63-53 win over Whitehorse, Utah,  in the opening round, while Shiprock topped Monument Valley, Utah, 46-44, to advance to the semifinals.

Kirtland Central advanced to the semifinals topping Bayfield, Colo., with a 58-48 win. Bloomfield pulled out all the stops and surprised host Kirtland Central, earning a 67-55 victory and a trip to the championship game.

Shiprock held off district foe Aztec, 47-40, on Friday to earn a spot in the championship game.

Kirtland Central faced Aztec for third place Saturday, and the Broncos won, 62-51.

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