Whitehorse girls defeat Monument Valley to advance to 5th place game

The Whitehorse girls basketball team advance to the 1A state 5th place game on March 1. The Raiders did it defeating the Monument Valley Cougars 47-36 in the consolation semi-final game on February 28.
The #5 seed Raiders built a 11-6 lead after one quarter on the #8 seed Cougars. The score favored Whitehorse 20-8 at halftime. Monument Valley cut into the Whitehorse lead making the score 32-26 after three quarters with the Raiders closing the game out to advance in the state tournament.
The Raiders were led in scoring in the game by Heidi Clark who finished with 14 points. Hannah Clark and Keiarra Martin each scored 10 for Whitehorse while Lamyia Benally and Maria Yellowman had four and Alyssa Eltsosie scored two for the Raiders.
Monument Valley was led in scoring by Dakotah Cly who scored 11 points, Shikeeya Hudson had eight while Taylor Stanley had six, Kaylisa Tome with five, Ayainna Cly scored four and Sloane Sheppard had two.
The Raiders shot 37.3-percent from the field on the game, the Cougars shot 34.9-percent. Heidi Clark was the most efficient shooter for Whitehorse making six of 10 attempts. Stanley Taylor and Ayainna Cly were both 100-percent from the field with Taylor going three for three and Cly shooting two for two.
Whitehorse and Monument Valley each had 28 rebounds as a team. Heidi Clark secured seven for Whitehorse while Keiarra Martin had five. Monument Valley was led in rebounds by Dakotah Cly who had eight, while Shikeeya Hudson had six.
Monument Valley assisted on nine baskets while Whitehorse did on eight. Martin led the raiders with four assists, while Dakotah Cly had three to lead Monument Valley.
One key statistic in the game were steals with Whitehorse grabbing 22 to Monument Valley’s 10 steals. Kaylisa Tome and Ayainna Cly each had three for Monument Valley. Keiarra Martin recorded eight steals while Hannah Clark had five.
Speaking after the game Martin said the team prides itself on defense.
“On steals I know when they’re going to pass, because their eyes and the way their body moves so I just position myself. I Time the ball where it's going to go and I just go for it.”
Another key for the Raiders was bench play with the starters getting some key rest ahead of the fourth quarter. Heidi Clark shared the second unit stepped up.
“They got that chemistry, once they got that first shot up they were going and we got hyped up at the bench. When we came back in it was time to take over.”
Clark said knowing Monument Valley they knew it was going to be a battle.
“They want that drum, they want to keep going at state but we just had that really strong chemistry that mindset that we've got this and we’re not ready to be sent home.”
Martin credited the whole team for the win.
“We’re just one team, one love. That goes back to the team effort. No one can beat one on five, unless you’re Jordan, but this is a team effort. We learn from our mistakes, we pick each other up and we just encourage each other and keep going with the game.”
That team chemistry is especially apparent between sisters Heidi and Hannah Clark who have playing together for the past 10 years.
“It’s just like a whole nother level when we’re playing and it’s something no one would understand. But I love playing with my sister. Its a fun thing because not a lot of people play with their siblings like that and it's fun. I love it.”
As for Martin she’s ready to try and win 5th place Saturday morning against Valley high.
“Taking my team back to 5th place. Its been a long time since a team at Whitehorse has made it to Saturday. We’re all hyped, got to get us locked in and get this win tomorrow.”
The game is at 10:00 am and will be audio broadcast on 92.7 FM.

Interview with Whitehorse players:

https://www.youtube.com/live/zHqsqywkUbI?si=uikC_g2vnZVWXMbX&t=5603

At the Friday game the Whitehorse girls basketball wore red ribbons in their hair to honor Murdered and Missing Indigenous Peoples.
In a pregame interview Coach Joni Dickson brought up the death of Arizona resident Emily Pike who was discovered the day before.
“This is an occurrence that needs to be represented. It’s sad and awful because we as indigenous people are still here. Even as basketball players going to another gym into another school into another community, we still get treated with disrespect. It’s something big that we are all dealing with and we’re going to continue to deal with and we just need to raise awareness about it.”
Coach Dickson shared they did see that support in their quarterfinal matchup.
“We appreciate all our fans. All the girls took in the energy that was there yesterday. We appreciate everyone who cheered us on and who aren't from our community that cheered us on because we definitely heard that and it was loud. If that is a glimpse of how we as one of two native teams in the state, if that is a glimpse of how we get support I wish that’s how all communities would have gotten that support.”