In 2023, the Tohatchi Lady Cougars beat the Sant Fe Indian Braves in the Nusenda Credit Union Girls Basketball state championship game on March 10 with a score of 46-24. This year, they’re looking to continue the streak of success and win another championship.
In an interview with the Sun before their quarterfinal matchup against the Zuni Lady Thunderbirds on March 12, Lady Cougar Brooke Badonie explained that the team’s strategy relies heavily on defense.
“We say that our defense will create our offense, so tomorrow we want to focus on stealing the ball [and] making them turn the ball over,” she said.
Badone is a senior this year, and she took time to reflect on her basketball career as a Lady Cougar.
“It’s been exciting, and I’m very grateful to be a part of this team. I’m sad that it’s coming to an end. I just have to make the best of this year,” she said.
Badone has plans to play basketball at New Mexico Highlands University next year.
Junior WynterRose Sheka also spoke about the team’s strategy going into the state championship games.
“Our plan is to mainly rebound, communicate, and follow through with our shots, and hustle,” she said.
Coach Tinisha Bistsoi has been with the team for almost 11 years now. She said part of the team’s strategy is all about mindset.
“The message is always the same. We have to be up for every game. I tell them, ‘Treat every game like it’s a championship game,’” Bistsoi said.
She explained that she also tries to prepare the girls for the future.
“I’m always telling them, ‘One day that basketball is going to stop bouncing for us, what do we do next?’ [I’m] trying to always put things into perspective and showing them that everything they’re doing in sports is teaching them and preparing them for challenges in the future,” Bistsoi said.
The Lady Cougars ended up defeating the Zuni Lady Thunderbirds in the tournament’s quarterfinals with a score of 48-16.
At press time, the Lady Cougars were waiting to play the Santa Fe Indian Braves in the semi-finals of the 2024 Nusenda Credit Union Girls Basketball on March 14. If they win that game, they will go on to the championship game on Feb. 15, where they will either play the Navajo Prep Lady Eagles or the St. Michael’s Lady Horsemen.
By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
