I know its because I wanted to do it. He does what he has to around the house. Each one was needed in crunch time in the closing minutes. The 11th Annual Realscreen Awards ceremony was held virtually this year as the organization recognized documentaries and works of non-fiction. His mother Joni, who is a school teacher, encouraged him to go to the bigger Chinle High School for a greater challenge. The series follows coach Raul Mendoza as he tries to take the Chinle Wildcats a basketball team from the Navajo Nation to the championships and beyond. I had numerous messages come about how it was an inspiration for someone or how it gave motivation and the drive they need to get better and be the best player they can be. It has impacted many, including McCurtain and Chinle boys basketball coach Raul Mendoza. A new sports docu-series has kicked off on Netflix on Friday, August 2nd and already fans are calling it their "favourite thing ever". Cooper Burbank, 18, is a senior at Chinle HS, Chinle, AZ. In the 21st century, this school and others in the district, have struggled with gang activity; some brought by students who had lived in large cities before coming or returning to this largely rural area of the reservation. He played in one tournament with the junior varsity team and I noticed that his game was well beyond his peers. Here, basketball is passion, passed from grandparent to parent to child. @ Valley (Sanders) Pirate Chinle High School Invitational 65-34 W Box. View live Arizona high school boys basketball scores on scorebooklive.com. Its a school, its a hospital, I dont want to say its a church, but a place of healing, Martin said. He shared the honor with Gallup HSs Quinn Atazhoon. The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. Surrounded by dirt, mountains and desert, the paved road is rare. Im proud of my girls, we got farther than anyone gave us credit for, Holbrook coach Greg Perkins said. Being a team captain for a few years has helped me gain leadership skills and the willing to help others be better. Navajo Times | Cyrus NorcrossChinle Lady Wildcat Ashlyn Lynch (10) goes for the layup during the semi-finals match up against Bourgade Catholic Golden Eagles at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Feb 25. It was different for Mendoza. GRV Media Ltd, 18 Mulberry Avenue, Widnes. As the Wildcats won the 3A North regionaltitle, they had their sights set on higher goals. He was alsonamed to the 3A all state first team in the past three years., In the 40 years of my coaching career, I will always consider myself very fortunate to have the opportunity of coaching Cooper, said Coach Raul. P-E%.n!%NByG'e&L5T04h0 K(+ endstream endobj 54 0 obj <>stream I thought it was a great story, Howley said. In 2017, I became a volunteer assistant for the boys basketball program. Yet during quarantine, the senior captain trained in the desert and spoiler alert dominated in her first game back. Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland. Please disable your ad blocker to view the video content. Burbank and the rest of his former teammates spread the word of the award through social media, sharing the original post from The WorkShop Content Studios, which created Basketball or Nothing., Overall, I thought that was awesome, Burbank said. Chinle loves hosting non-native teams, as it did on this night welcoming in Show Low High School, a public school located 154 miles south of Chinle. The Roadrunners were starved of points but were able to make last-minute scores from Nick Begayand Brandon Tapaha, bringing them just four points away from a win. Here are two of our most popular articles to get you started: NCSA College Recruiting (NCSA) is the exclusive athletic recruiting network that educates, assists, and connects, families, coaches and companies so profile and get matched with the right choices. Navajo Times | Cyrus NorcrossHolbrook Roadrunner Noheah Aberle (42) attempts a shot during the match up against the Alchesay Falcons on Feb 26. Have something to tell us about this article? Centered - Anthony Ianni 2021-09-07 And everyone will triumph in the achievements of Centered. I just have my dirt court, Ashley said. In addition to basketball, the documentary also reveals the hardship of the people, the struggles kids on the reservation had to face and how despite those struggles they emerged victorious. The pandemic was hard on the community. So the community of Chinle just opened their arms to us and that allowed us to tell the story. chinle police news; Weve turned the spotlight on these teens of Chinle High with hoop dreams. From Coopers NCSA recruiting profile, he says he is willing to do what it takes to continue playing basketball in the college level, so lets hope over the coming years well see Cooper take it to D1 level! I knew he was going to be an amazing athlete from then on. Playing it close and shooting from different angles, it took a 12-6 first-quarter lead. Perseverance has long been demanded of this community. fT[a:l\]\ AcVwNV|[YNw8Ho;}FxlE;@ He knows there is always room to be better and to improve. Cooper Burbank was one of the main characters in the feature. Meanwhile, hes mentionedon Facebook that hes working at a Nike shop. The Alchesay Falcons will face off the Chinle Wildcats for the 2021-2022 State Championship Title at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum Feb 26. NCSA athlete's Copyright 2018, Country Mountain Airwaves. The Roadrunners lost the semi-final match up 37-64. The school's Division III basketball teams, known as the Wildcats, play in the Wildcat Den, a large arena seating 6,000 people. We did the best we could, we just didnt have an answer for Coolidge, he said. 2 talking about this. Its gonna be about a year since I lost my dad, McCurtain said as she choked back tears. However, Alchesay exploded forward again. Its built into our cultures to just have positive, competitive environments where were celebrating not only our kids, but other communities.. Coach Raul Mendoza praised Cooper Burbanks talent from the outset. at. He is one individual that I never had to worry about in terms of attitude. 2 HERE: Watch THATCHER VS SHOW LOW Girls 3A State Basketball Round 2 Game Here: Watch BLUE RIDGE at SNOWFLAKE Girls and Boys Basketball Here: Watch SHOW LOW VS SNOWFLAKE 3A State Round 1 Basketball Game Here. I do so by communicating with my parents, teachers, mentors, classmates, teammates and my friends. 1. @ Window Rock. You can also ask your parents to call us In a come from behind win in this 2019-20 seasons Arizona 3A North Regional boys basketball tournament, #2 seed Chinle HS defeated #3 seed Monument Valley HS 87-83. Cooper Burbank scored a game high 39 points for Chinle and was 16-16 on the free throw line. The Wildcats defeated the Golden Eagles in the close match up 49-42. Taking the ball, Holbrook slowed the game down, forcing the Bears to play out of their comfort zone. The ultimate goal: Get the easiest bucket as quickly as possible. Basketball Essentials - Goodson, Ryan 2016-07-26 So naturally she taught me the fundamentals, McCurtain said. Lady Wildcat Aisha Ashely made a variety of shots from the free-throw line, inside the paint, and the 3-point line. The Roadrunner, however, made massive gains with Spencer making a basket and Raelle Yazzie hitting two 3-pointers, trailing four points at halftime. Like this story? We apologize for this inconvenience and invite you to return as soon as you turn 13. Coach Mendoza said Cooper was very mature and he had a great sense of the game. I wish there were more young men in the world like Cooper Burbank. Dec 8 7 PM. This group page is to communicate all things positive about our athletic teams and programs. These days, the wailing of sirens has been replaced by the bouncing of basketballs. Basketball's Record Breakers - Shane Frederick 2017-01-01 . He showed a lot of maturity that he never tried to do more than what he was capable. The woman is the head of the family, and clans extend far beyond their direct household bloodlines. Tom fought hard to earn playtime and be named a starter. Theres this very cyclical life viewpoint of everything, Martin said. This includes health and safety initiatives, participation opportunities for all, and especially fan content. Because of the pandemic, we needed more involvement from (coaches), Mendoza said. I want to help my Native people and give back to my community. They didn't mind too much when they finished in a tie with Chinle for third behind Monument Valley and Window Rock with a 6-6 record. The school is the only high school in the Chinle Unified School District, and all of the district's elementary and middle schools feed into it. Posted by Angelo T Lewis onWednesday, February 15, 2017. Let go Wildcats! Box Score Recap Marshall 72, Duquesne 71 Book (PDF) D'Antoni Press Conference Marshall Quotes History. The entire universe can be related to that way of thinking.. [3] 99% of the students are Native Americans, mainly Navajo. 08 Dec. 7:00 pm. A documentary series about the Chinle High School basketball team, a small-town high school team with a passionate fan base on the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona, made its debut Friday, Aug . And weve scoured the internet but cant seem to find any trace of Cooper on Twitter. Watch The 3A State Semi-finals CHINLE VS SHOW LOW and ALCHESAY VS WINDOW ROCK Here: TOPICS: 3A State Basketball Alchesay Basketball Chinle Basketball Cougar Basketball Falcon Basketball Girls Basketball High School Sports Broadcasting Scout Basketball Show Low Basketball State Semi-finals Wildcat Basketball Window Rock Basketball Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. Getting back to the season is how we move forward. I want to be the teammate that individuals want to be on the same team with. Being at home feels great for me, because Im finally back at my original home. What Happens When a College Town Loses Its College? In that opening quarter, Alchesay got multiple steals from Edwards and Shanae Zahgotah. I play because its a love of the game. The womens team plays a hounding full court press, stealing the ball before opponents can react. Thank you very much for sharing their performance! And not just because Im the coach, but because they want to do it.. Standard rates apply. 2022-2023 SCHEDULE Tweet Post Sms Email Copy Print Season Fowlers own production company co-producedBasketball or Nothing to highlight the lives of teen athletes on the reservation. My mom was a coach. Samatha Billie made Holbrooks first score, but the Lady Falcons got baskets from Nosie and Brandy Edwards as Alchesay took a 16-6 lead after one quarter. Each year, NCSA educates over 4 million athletes and their parents about the recruiting process through resources on its website, presentations of the critically-acclaimed seminar College Recruiting Simplified, and with Athletes Wanted, the book written by NCSA founder Chris Krause. Kylen and Ashley left the court in March 2020 as sophomores, and are returning as seniors expected to lead their young and inexperienced teams while healing their community through basketball. They still didnt make it to state but they had a mega season. d&:WD fF It sat idle from March 2020 to November 18 while the city was on lockdown due to COVID-19. I played two years varsity football but decided to focus on basketball, said Cooper. I know that with the abilities I have, it isnt just my work. Cooper averaged 23 ppg and 8 rpg. Show all Sports. Getting Defensive 37m They travel great . Cooper is always seeking knowledge about the game. After graduating in 2020, he joined the Navajo Times as a sportswriter for two years before leaving in September 2022. 52 0 obj <>stream What caught my attention was how advanced his skills were at the age he was at. Consent is not a condition of purchase. His basketball idols include Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. vs Ganado. I am thankful for individuals who help me grow personally and academically. Following the release of the documentary, Mendoza received requests to coach students as far away as Eastern Europe and students who were willing to travel to the reservation and be a Wildcat. at 866-495-5172 to learn more. We also told players that they need to study players, the coaches and plays, that basketball is much bigger than they think., I know I need a strong base of strength, said Cooper. The games were scrimmages, so the teams did not keep score, but it did not matter to Chinle, which always applied full court pressure, always played fast. Because of the film and production crew who took a chance on this, now many people know how it is on the reservation playing basketball and what it means for Native Americans.. In times of tough situations, I remember why Im in the moment. I played football for Chinle HS and we hosted a youth summer football camp. (We) had 17 different starters this year because of COVID protocols but I like them because they kept the girls safe.. This is his second consecutive season winning the award. %PDF-1.6 % I make sure Im in the best shape I can be in to perform in. I do what I can to help the team, give all my effort and play the role I am assigned. They are warriors because their normal lives would be challenging to others. AZ. I think if they wear the black and gold, they should be very proud, McCurtain said. The AIA is a voluntary association of almost 280 public and private high schools that strives to be a leader in many facets of high school sports and activities. Thatcher defeated Chinle in the opening round of the 3A State Boys Basketball Championship playoffs 83-64 but fell in the next round to eventual 3A State Champion Valley Christian, 36-79. . Over 1,000 students attend Chinle High School in the heart of the Navajo Nation. It was directed by Matt Howley, Michael Lucas and Gabriel . Even before it won the award, Basketball or Nothing was released to a wide audience via Netflix and has since gained thousands if not millions of viewings, according to Mendoza. We didnt have a season last year and the girls came out hungry, they want more.. He is humble in so many ways. Brandon Napier drives during Thursday night's 3A Boys Basketball State Playoffs opening-round win 83-64 over the No. Dont worryNCSA is In the meantime, we'd like to offer some helpful information to kick start your recruiting process. He took advantage of getting to know the team, the area and other team players. Posted by David Smith | Feb 4, 2021 | Sports |. But with great success comes great sacrifice, he believes. His attitude was great throughout his high school career and he understood how to play the game of basketball that made it a pleasureto work with him, added Coach Raul. Chinle Basketball OVERALL 19-12 0.61 Win % SECTION 10-5 2nd 3A North HOME8-4 AWAY11-6 NEUTRAL0-2 PF2028 PA1691 STREAK2L Contribute to the Team Complete the Schedule Add missing games to the schedule Complete the Roster Add missing athletes to the roster Add a Team Photo Give fans a look at the team Post a Video So if they didnt do that, we wouldnt have had a show.. #1 Online Resource for Native American Sports News. The community has also struggled with poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, and family issues. GRV Media Ltd, 18 Mulberry Avenue, Widnes. In May of 2020, the Navajo Nation, which includes 27,425 square miles of land that extends into New Mexico, Arizona and Utah hadthe countrys highest infection rate, surpassing New York. They rely heavily on a small lineup dominated by guard play. There were a couple of moments we fell asleep but theyre really good when they want to play and when they play like that theyre tough. Holbrooks Abigayle Nez exchanged 3-pointers with Jenieth Sanchez and Brandy Edwards, but Alchesay kept up its scoring and built on its lead. Instead, he sat down and observed. I had him play with junior varsity during our summer program. He readily accepted the challenge. . So in basketball, whenever it would get tough, I remember why I play. We have. They are Din. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Chinle High School ROCK POINT, AZ Men's Basketball See Full Profile College Coach? "You're gonna lose, but . hSN@y'fMXaU@KbRM/&Bh&,P)0M?M They were back this past season to focus on the team journey through their senior stars and families and with Head Coach Raul Mendoza. Central Coast Section basketball playoffs begin this weekend across six divisions, including Open SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 9: Archbishop Riordan's Brendan Passanisi-Boullett (31) controls. I grew up watching my dad play in tournaments and watched the competitive nature he had in him, said Cooper. But like everywhere, Covid-19 made it nearly impossible to have larger family gatherings without it becoming a petri dish for the virus to spread aggressively. I give thanks to my God who takes care of me and blesses me with everything. Chinle, Fort Defiance Window Rock and Whiteriver Alchesay have all acknowledged they have canceled the winter basketball seasons.