KC-PV Girls Basketball Extras

We've seen Kirtland Central's girls handle the two best teams the area has to offer in No. 2 Shiprock and No. 6 Piedra Vista, both on the road.

The Lady Broncos pulled away late in the fourth quarter in both games.

They beat PV, 56-44, and beat Shiprock, 63-51.

PV, though, looks like a surefire tournament team if they sweep FHS and Aztec.

The throwback, 2005 jerseys sported by the KC players cost them a point tonight as Raquel Woody, normally No. 15, wore No. 14 on the new jerseys. The coaches forgot to change it in the book and got a technical.

Another interesting development: The Broncos' players wouldn't answer questions after the game. Coach Charles Kromer, it seemed to me, had a smirk of amusement on his face when he told me that Meghan Yazzie denied my interview request. I'm not sure what's behind the silence but maybe I'll find out soon.

Mike Christie revealed an interesting game plan against KC: "I told the girls, 'They are not to hit another 3 this whole game or you're coming and sitting right with me.'"

I think the way to beat the Broncos is to keep the ball away from Yazzie and Taradena Mitchell inside and force them to make jump shots and be patient.

Christie, though, is the coach, and he has a trio of sophomore post players and senior Ali Rhodes that have advanced far this season.

He figured the strength of the team defensively is inside and contested the 3-point line tight.

Kirtland, in my mind, was the better team. I don't think PV is ready to split with KC and Shiprock. They might not beat either of them this year, but they'll likely come close. They've already leapfrogged Aztec this year.

They aren't far away, though. You have to wonder what they'd be like with Krystin Bates, out with an injury. Maybe they'd already be there.

The game was one of the finest I've seen in terms of free throw shooting at a girls basketball game.

PV's Krysty Bates missed her first and made her next eight. Amanda Kerr made 5-of-7 for KC. The teams shot a combined 77.4 percent for 31 attempts.

KC cut their 16 first-half turnovers into four.

Some extra stats from Tuesday night's game (KC is listed on the left):

Turnovers: K - 20, PV - 27
2-point FG: 17-32, 9-24
3-point FG: 3-11, 5-17
R: 21, 28
FT: 13-18, 11-13
A: 8, 10
F: 18, 21

Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher