Buckaroos, Raiders split basketball games

by Bill Boyle
San Juan Record Editor
The Monticello High School basketball team defeated the Whitehorse Raiders 81-68 in a key Region 19 matchup in Montezuma Creek January 24.
The Buckaroos exploded to a 27-12 lead over the Raiders on the back of seven three-point baskets in the opening quarter. The Raiders attempted to mount comeback after comeback, but the Buckaroos kept them at bay, eventually earning the win.
Cache Young scored 21 points, including five three-pointers. He added four rebounds and five assists. Kaden Pehrson scored 18 points, including three threes, 13 rebounds, and six assists.
Jackson Keyes scored 17 points, while Kooper Nielson filled up the stat sheet with 12 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Traken Lee scored ten and pulled down six rebounds, while Tommy Morrison scored three.
For the Raiders, Hyatt Thomas scored 21 points with five three-pointers, while sophomore Adam Joe scored 19 and pulled down seven rebounds.
Kalin Tohonnie scored nine and Dominic Dance scored five along with seven assists and four rebounds. Tristan Black and Asa Hot scored six points each for the Raiders, and Brayden John got two.
In the earlier game, the Lady Raiders ran away from the Lady Bucks with a 75-42 win. Keiarra Martin paced Whitehorse with 21 points, ten rebounds, and five assists.
Heidi Clark added 14 points, Alyssa Eltsosie scored 12 with five rebounds, and Lamyia Benally scored five points and assisted on four buckets.
Hannah Clark and Lakyara Begay scored eight points apiece, Kaleigh Chee and Malia Sam got two each, and Kelaigha Nakai added one.
The Lady Buckaroos were led by Makenna Peterson with 16 points and five rebounds, while Braylee Freestone scored 13 and Maron Freestone added ten points and five assists.
Elise Taylor scored two points for Monticello and Rolena Lansing had one point. Mechaiyah Lansing pulled down four rebounds.
Earlier in the week, the Buckaroos fell to the Dove Creek Bulldogs in rematches of games earlier in the season.
The Monticello boys fell 60-56 to the Bulldogs as Dove Creek avenged an earlier loss to Monticello. The Bulldogs roared out to a 20-9 first-quarter lead and maintained the advantage despite several runs by the Bucks.
Young led Monticello with 23 points, while Keyes added 12 and Lee scored eleven. Liam Hassel led the Bulldogs with 23 points, while Trevan Ivie poured in 19.
The Lady Bulldogs won 55-41 behind 29 points from Raylynn Hickman and 16 from Taylor Hampton. Monticello was led by Maron Freestone with 22 points, while Peterson added 13.