Diné girls' team wins 2nd title

Unknown Hoops from the Navajo Nation won a second consecutive Native American Basketball Invitational title, defeating the Oklahoma Ndns II, 57-36.

The Ndns are the same team they defeated for the title last year.

"It feels like any other tournament but the competition was a little better," said Unknown's Coralie Clark. "We played throughout the whole summer together in different tournaments all around the rez. We got exposure to different tribes and different ways of how people play. There are a lot of good guards out there. The competition's good."

Clark was one of eight members of the team who come from local high schools including Window Rock, Rehoboth, Page and Ganado.

The team is based mostly on friendship and the teammates coach themselves and each other.

Sean Manuelito, a local high school basketball referee, is the head coach and assistant coach is Darwin Mitchell, the father of player Ashley Mitchell.

"Ashley and two of the teammates got the team together and at the last minute they asked us to guide them," Darwin Mitchell said. "Ashley asked me and I asked Sean to help me."

The team includes Ashley Mitchell, Sydney Perkins, Cheyenne Begaye, LaCresha Campbell and Coralie Clark from Window Rock High, Ariel Begaye from Rehoboth Christian, Jasmine Taliman from Ganado High and Nicole Manson from Page High.

Cheyenne Begaye, who graduated this year from Window Rock, played in her last NABI tournament and is happy with the outcome.

"It feels good," she said. "We didn't win state so this is a good comeback for us. It's really good and I'm glad to be on this team."

"There's some really tough girls out there," she added. "I know this is like the best teams out of the U.S. and it was a pretty good experience. It was good competition."

Begaye will play basketball at Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, Calif.

The team was undefeated in games played over four days in the Phoenix metro area.

Darwin Mitchell said he and Manuelito were not worried about the competition.

"Our main fear was how they were going to show up to play," he said. "If anything they're the ones to destroy themselves as far as mentally and physically. If they're not focused on the game they don't have no business out there.

"We try to just encourage them, try to tell them keep their heads up," he said.

But the girls were ready. Facing teams from other parts of the country, including some tall players, was something they had to face head on.

Manuelito said that the girls adjusted well defensively.

"On offense we just let them go," he said. "On defense we mostly focused on teamwork and communication.

"Once we got our defense going our offense was fired off," he said. "Our offense was fired by Coralie, Ashley and Jasmine Taliman."

Ashley Mitchell, who has played in NABI for three years, said different aspects of the tournament are good.

"It's different teams of Natives, it's like a powerhouse," she said. "It's just getting the feel of NABI, meeting different people and just getting out there exposing yourselves."

"It was a privilege coming down here," Manuelito said. "I never experienced the girls side of the NABI tournament but it was a good experience and I appreciate the girls asking me to come on board, Darwin and I. I really enjoyed my experience this year."

Darwin Mitchell added about his daughter, "A lot of parents try to live their days through their kids so I've learned a long time ago it's not my game, it's her game. I just encourage her and all the girls too.

"They're all like daughters to me and part of the family," he said. "I've known them since they were 10 years old."

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