Eagles Edge Skyhawks in Thrilling 53-47 District Battle

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>CROWNPOINT, N.M.</em> — In a gripping 3A District 1 showdown on Friday, February 6, the Crownpoint Eagles held off a furious late rally from the visiting Newcomb Skyhawks to secure a 53-47 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles, now 17-4 overall, controlled the game from the opening tip and never trailed, building a commanding 27-12 halftime lead behind a suffocating defense and sharp execution. They closed the second quarter with a decisive 10-0 run starting at the 5:30 mark, stifling Newcomb's early efforts despite the Skyhawks generating clean looks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crownpoint's off-ball movement was electric, creating open lanes and easy buckets. Defensively, both teams locked in with man-to-man schemes, but the Eagles' relentless pressure and board work proved the difference early.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomb (now 14-8) flipped the momentum in the third quarter, ramping up the tempo and attacking in transition to trim the deficit. The Skyhawks made it a one-point game (45-44) with 4:03 left after a clutch three-pointer, turning the gym into a cauldron of intensity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But Crownpoint responded with poise. Three players reached double figures, led by senior standout [player_tooltip player_id='1221578' first='Courtney' last='Craig']'s game-high 18 points. The active forward dominated in transition with fast-break layups, crashed the glass relentlessly, and converted multiple putbacks to keep the Eagles ahead. Senior Kathryn Francisco added 13 points with versatile scoring at all three levels, while junior [player_tooltip player_id='1262035' first='Miley' last='McMillan'] chipped in 10 points (eight in the first half), heating up early with confident outside shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Newcomb, the junior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1226885' first='Lethia' last='Yazzie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='839438' first='Makya' last='Nelson'] refused to let the game slip away quietly. Yazzie erupted for a team-high 18 points, dazzling in the open court with her blazing quickness and ambidextrous finishes at the rim. Nelson poured in 16 points — 14 coming after halftime — including three big triples that fueled the comeback charge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This win avenges nothing from the January 16 meeting (a 52-45 Eagles victory), but it solidifies Crownpoint's strength in district play under head coach Byron Murphy. Newcomb, coached by Nathan Brady, showed championship heart in the second half and remains a dangerous contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What's Next</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crownpoint (17-4) hosts Tohatchi (11-10) on Saturday, February 7 at 2:00 p.m. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomb (14-8) travels to Tohatchi (11-10) on Wednesday, February 11 at 6:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->