The Newcomb Lady Skyhawks may have faced a tough second quarter in today's semifinal matchup, but their performance showcased a team with a bright future and a strong foundation. The team got off to a "great start," demonstrating the effectiveness of their recent efforts to elevate their level of competition.

First year coach, Nathan Brady highlighted that the team had been working on "getting to that next level" since their last defeat, focusing on aggressiveness and physicality. This preparation was evident in the first quarter, where the "young ladies put what we were saying from the fight board into what I was saying in the huddle and they put that on the floor." They came out with significant enthusiasm and aggression.

Lethia Yazzie, one of the players, echoed this, noting that she saw "open gaps" in the defense during that initial period, allowing her to drive and score. She explained that when the opposing team adjusted their defense, she tried to adapt by cutting to the middle and passing out for more shot opportunities to her teammates.

However, the second quarter presented challenges. The coach pointed to "turnovers" and a lack of aggressiveness in passing as contributing factors. Defensively, the team "kind of let our guard down" and "missed some assignments on the rotation." As coach Brady noted, "when you do that at this level, you it's going to catch up to you and it did."

Players also shared their perspectives on the second quarter. Yazzie mentioned "miscommunication" when shifting their defense and acknowledged that distractions from the crowd and the bench, which they weren't as accustomed to this year, played a role. April Peshlakai, player felt the increasing pressure from the opposing defense, noting that as they pushed back, the pressure on Newcomb intensified. She also felt that the crowd's influence grew, causing them to listen to it more.

Despite the second-quarter struggles, the experience gained from reaching this level is invaluable for this young team. As Yazzie stated, she gained "a lot of confidence" despite being scared of big crowds, and this experience has made her and her team "hungry for next season". Peshlakai echoed this sentiment, expressing excitement for next year after gaining this learning experience.

Coach Brady expressed immense pride in his team for reaching the quarterfinals in his first year, noting that it's been since 2020 that the program has reached the semifinals. He emphasized that from the beginning of the season, the goal was to reach this level, drawing on his and his assistant coach's experiences in high-stakes games to prepare the team mentally. He believes that "you have to lose one of these types of games in order to get to that next one," framing this setback as a crucial learning opportunity for the young squad.

With only two seniors on a squad of twelve, the Lady Skyhawks have a significant core of ten underclassmen who will be returning next season, along with potentially "three or four from JV that stood out." Coach Brady is optimistic about the future, stating, "the outlook for Lady Sky basketball is tremendous." He highlighted the strength of their district, which includes tough competitors like Navajo Prep, Tohachi, and Thoreau, noting that playing at that level prepares them for challenging games.

The coach emphasized that the program is a "year-round" endeavor and a good summer program will be crucial for continued growth. He noted the "outpour of support" from the local communities, indicating the team has brought the love of basketball back to the area.

In conclusion, while today's game presented challenges, the Newcomb Lady Skyhawks demonstrated their potential with a strong start and gained valuable experience. With a young and talented roster returning next season, and the lessons learned from this game, the future looks incredibly promising for the Lady Skyhawks. Their journey this season has not only brought them to a high level of competition but has also reignited the passion for basketball within their community.