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. The team travels extensively, and made appearances at NABI, Big Foot Hoops: Easter Showdown, Las Vegas Classic, Adidas Gauntlet events and many other national tournaments. fT[a:l\]\ AcVwNV|[YNw8Ho;}FxlE;@ When Cooper plays its like hes in a mindset of his own, he knows what hes going to do and how he is going to execute it. I know he will do great things on and off the court, and this is only the beginning for him., My high school coach, Raul Mendoza, always knew I could be the best, said Cooper. Get Exposure with college programs. Non-native kids will be a lot more readable as far as body language and emotions.. High school basketball season commences around mid-November, so they will have had all of summer to re-energise for the coming season. Since appearing onBasketball Or Nothing, the team has changed. What Happens When a College Town Loses Its College? By: Caroline John - Published: August 2, 2019 at 10:42 am. Ashley is one of a few returners coming off the pandemic year. The ultimate goal: Get the easiest bucket as quickly as possible. [8], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}360925N 1093456W / 36.157074N 109.582272W / 36.157074; -109.582272, "Beyond the X: Rez Ball fuels basketball fever in Arizona's Navajo Nation", "You better not lose: Navajo basketball is fast and unforgiving", "Nothing but net: Account of a basketball season among the Navajos captures more than the game", Chinle's Wildcat Den shut down for repairs, Gang violence up in rez town; school heads in 'denial? Shaundiin Yazzie, Qoah Yazzie, and the rest of the Wildcat team made multiple points and were able to stay ahead of Bourgade Catholic. Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. Dec 4 7 PM. The players I have developed and come through to the program and make it to the championship Im proud of that.. Since the start of the 2018 to 2019 season, the Chinle Wildcats were been back and better than ever. We've turned the spotlight on these teens of Chinle High with hoop dreams. File photoA Netflix crewmember gets footage of Chinle basketball coach Raul Mendoza talking to his team during filming of the documentary Basketball or Nothing, in this file photo last year. This is his second consecutive season winning the award. Opponents take part in that cultural experience, learning about traditional Navajo teachings reflected in the $24 million facility. Teenage boys craned their necks and pointed at a red- tailed hawk riding the currents of approaching winter. Page (3A 2019 and 2021). Im enjoying walking over to her house and just relax, added Cooper. Smith returned in February 2023. I think if they wear the black and gold, they should be very proud, McCurtain said. Pretty proud of them for making it to the final four., We had a great season, considering all the stuff we went through, he said. I feel more of a connection built with those we are close too. One of the stars of the first season was Cooper Burbank, who has dreams of becoming a Division 1 player and the talent to get there. Chinle High School is the largest high school on the Navajo Nation with a student body population of 1130 students. We did the best we could, we just didnt have an answer for Coolidge, he said. WATCH BASKETBALL OR NOTHING SEASON 1 ON NETFLIX NOW, SUBSCRIBE AND READ THE NEW REALITY TITBIT MAGAZINEHERE, Screenshot: Basketball Or Nothing S1 E1 - Netflix. Along with a website that generates more than a thousand articles and 30 . What caught my attention was how advanced his skills were at the age he was at. .HLNq Avvny%@Ce` e+A& Rider Portela grew . Cooper was recently awarded The Navajo Times Co-Player of the Year honor. Basketball or Nothing is a series that follows the Wildcat team and the journey to the state championships. Listen to the 3A Girls State Championship Game SHOW LOW vs ALCHESAY Here: Watch The 3A State Semi-finals CHINLE VS SHOW LOW and ALCHESAY VS WINDOW ROCK Here: Watch Girls 3A Quarterfinals SNOWFLAKE vs ALCHESAY and SHOW LOW vs YUMA CATHOLIC Here: Watch SNOWFLAKE VS ALA IRONWOOD 3A STATE BASKETBALL RD. Position: SG Sec. Weve turned the spotlight on these teens of Chinle High with hoop dreams. Alchesay continued to steal the ball and it continued to push forward. The two are using basketball as a means to fulfill educational dreams, the way Martin hopes all students will. The legend is entering his 42nd season coaching high school basketball on the Navajo Nation. He also praised Jenieth Sanchez for playing strong defense and offense. Rez ball is back and the community is rebounding. He knew no one on the team. And ever since then, the cast has been told how much their stories have made an impact on people. Tom fought hard to earn playtime and be named a starter. I know its because I wanted to do it. In times of tough situations, I remember why Im in the moment. 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. Holbrooks Abigayle Nez exchanged 3-pointers with Jenieth Sanchez and Brandy Edwards, but Alchesay kept up its scoring and built on its lead. The Lady Wildcats will host the winner of #9 Winslow vs #24 Wickenburg on Friday the 21st at 7pm. This is a story that director and producer Matthew Howley wanted to share when he first heard about the Navajo Nation when he read a New York Times article about rezball, and the community that surrounded it. Being a team captain for a few years has helped me gain leadership skills and the willing to help others be better. In the Wildcats 3A North-winning game in February 2018, James was among the top scorers with 10 points. You can also ask your parents to call us From paintings of Canyon De Chelly on each side of the basketball court to the wildcat in a small circle on the side of stands, it was planned with purpose. The Wildcats will face off against the Alchesay Falcons for the 2021-2022 State Champion Title on Feb 26. Where can i get one? Its quite an accomplishment, especially for our program and this is my fourth-year coaching in Chine, she said. by Gabrielle Ducharme December 28, 2021 Over 1,000 students attend Chinle High School in the heart of the Navajo Nation. Chinle vs St. Johns - Boys Varsity Basketball 12/28/2021 | Watch Live & On Demand. But later down the road, we began to know one another and he was like a big brother to me. 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. Even off the court, Cooper displays characteristics of a respectable young man, said Aaron. 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. Basketball - Girl's Shadow Ridge Paradise Valley Mountain Ridge Greenway and 4 more Details November 21, 2022 - November 25, 2022 2nd Annual Feast Mode Thanksgiving Tournament Hosted by Horizon High School Horizon High School Basketball - Girl's Liberty Horizon Notre Dame Prep Arcadia and 2 more All members invited Details McCurtain paces back and forth, snapping at players for missed screens and costly turnovers. h2R0P0V0Pw+I+)V0 Theres a lot of hardships out here on the Navajo Nation thats not seen up in the cities, he said. He understood this because we coached him before and that is what we always emphasized to our players. He became a starter about a third into the regular season and he was the second leading scorer on the team with about 10 points per game., After his freshman year, he led the team in scoring with 18.6 ppg, 20.6 ppg and 21.7 as well in rebounding through his high school career at Chinle HS, said Coach Raul. When Howley first read the story about rezball, read about the intensity of the games, the thousands of people who would come to watch and how a community rallied for their young athletes, he knew it was something he wanted to share. vs Alchesay. Were sorry, you have to be 13 years old In the 1950s, Chile had one of the finest national basketball teams in the world. Mendoza feels he missed out on a lot before the pandemic at the expense of his coaching success. [7] It is also tied for the rank of 15th-largest high school basketball gymnasium in the United States. Freshman (2016-2017) - All Region Honorable Mention, Sophomore Year (2017-2018) - All Region First Team. 08 Dec. 7:00 pm. Cooper was named Region Offensive Player of the Year 2017-2018, Region Player of the Year 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 3A Conference First Team 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and All Arizona Conference 3rd Team. And it doesnt end, because preservation, much like time, is cyclical. That builds resilience.. So in basketball, whenever it would get tough, I remember why I play. Cooper averaged 23 ppg and 8 rpg. He would open up the gym whenever I wanted to come in. Accepting that the pandemic year did happen, and we cant go back and change it.. Josiah Tsosie is also at university but is at Arizona State. And basketball is one of those things that can heal us, too.. The sports docu-series follows the Wildcats a basketball team from Chinle High School in Arizonas Navajo Nation on their journey to become a state championship-winning team. Because it was among a great group of shows. You will never hear him brag about himself or talk down about anyone else. They have to feed the livestock and then chop wood for warmth, before they sit down and feed themselves, as a 10-year-old. My father and my mother were the ones who taught me a lot of the game. Position: SF Points/Game 15 Free Throw % 78 Field Goal % 46 Bench Press 145 Squat 205 21/22 Pima Highlights 35 Point Game 39 Point Game 42 Point Game 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. Basketball is important on the reservation. Fresh. Roughly 300 miles north of Phoenix, tucked behind the majestic Canyon De Chelly, sits Chinle in the heart of the Navajo Nation. But its no jokes once he steps on the court. The film was chosen as the best sports documentary at the 11th Annual Realscreen Awards ceremony. Centered - Anthony Ianni 2021-09-07 And everyone will triumph in the achievements of Centered. 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. McCurtain is a physical education teacher, basketball coach and mother of five, including two Chinle players: son Kylen and daughter Qoah Yazzie. I think a lot of people dont know a lot about the Navajo Tribe or the culture or what they do and the different parts of the show gives a glimpse of what the Navajo Tribe goes through and the way life is on the reservation, Mendoza said. In 1986 the federal government gave a grant to Chinle USD to build a new Chinle HS building, with the grant totaling $10,000,000. 6ft 3 Cooper grew up in the small town of Red Mesa, Arizona. The Roadrunners struggled to keep up, never slowing down and continuing the battle. Each part of the Wildcat Den has a spiritual message. Its a new world and the future is bright when Native American youth like our kids are mentioned in the same sentences as Michael Jordan, D. Wade and Lance Armstrong, Martin said. August 2, 2019. Box Score Marshall 100, Bluefield 57 Book (PDF) D'Antoni Press Conference Marshall Quotes History. 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. They were back this past season to focus on the team journey through their senior stars and families and with Head Coach Raul Mendoza. He studied journalism and English for five years while working part-time for NAUs NAZ Today and the Lumberjack newspaper. I believe that Cooper worked his way to be one of the top players in all the state of Arizona, said Coach Raul. , I have played with many types of players and I always maintain composure. After graduating in 2020, he joined the Navajo Times as a sportswriter for two years before leaving in September 2022. "You're gonna lose, but . 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. After his daughter fell ill to cancer, and eventually Covid-19, he held on to the knowledge that the quarantine brought one benefit: After she passed away, Im glad that I was able to be with her, Mendoza said. It is affiliated to FIBA, under the zone confederation of FIBA Americas . Chinle, Fort Defiance Window Rock and Whiteriver Alchesay have all acknowledged they have canceled the winter basketball seasons. Cooper is always seeking knowledge about the game. He played his final high school game as a Wildcat at the Northland Basketball All-Star Game before graduating in 2018. It sat idle from March 2020 to November 18 while the city was on lockdown due to COVID-19. 2022-2023 SCHEDULE Tweet Post Sms Email Copy Print Season So that was probably one of the things that made it more special, the way it is and just being I mean me working with the kids is hard, how difficult it is for them to make it to school each day and being able to succeed in the classroom and being able to play basketball and also the aspect about their support, he said. I was really happy about that, it was something the kids were able to experience.. Chinle's population is 4,518. 2 talking about this. Wade: Life Unexpected, about basketballs Duane Wade. Photo courtesy of Jalen Johnson Whoops! Copyright 2018, Country Mountain Airwaves. Watch online from home or on the go. The pandemic was hard on the community. Curtis Begay and Cooper Burbank were responsible for the Wildcats clinching the 3A North regionaltitle, kicking things off with four points each. As I grew up and was about to go into high school, my mom and I would attend games at the school I was likely to be attending. Kylen lives close to the school in teacher housing with McCurtain and his four younger siblings. I couldnt ask for more time being spent with my grandmother. 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. I want to be the teammate that individuals want to be on the same team with. vs Ganado. Cooper Burbank does have an Instagram account under@cooperburbank but its private. During the summers, Id be around him most of the time in the gym, weight room, team tournaments, and practices. James lets his skills do the talking. Out of 33 games, they only lost 6. One of the Chinle residents said they think Cooper has what it takes to become the first Division 1 player out of Chinle. His work ethic paid off that he shot 48% from inside the arc, 39% from beyond the arc and shot 84% from free throw line in his high school career.. If you're receiving this message in error, please call us at 886-495-5172. Over 1,000 students attend Chinle High School in the heart of the Navajo Nation. Also Read:Bobby Bruce Wiki,Former ICC Pirates Player from Netflixs Last Chance U, Posted by Josiah Tsosie onTuesday, February 13, 2018. Mendoza expressed surprise when he heard the documentary won the award. His work ethic is one of his strengths that he would ask to come in the mornings before class to work on his shot. Getting Defensive 37m On Friday evening, the 3A state semifinal games were decided for both boys and girls. Being at an apartment for school, has be aching to go home. Our modern day warriors are our kids on the court, Martin said. Stream sports and activities from Chinle High School in Chinle, AZ, both live and on demand. 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 The Roadrunners were defeated by the Bears 57-67. Hopefully, after the shows success, Cooper will keep all his fans updated on his basketball progress by making his Instagram page public! Quiet, yet focused, the coach stared at the court as his players warmed up. In his downtime, Lewis works at a skateboarding shop. 10 Dec. 10:30 am. Everyday, I keep looking for more equipment that could help me. This is a point that 'Basketball or Nothing' looks to make. These days, the wailing of sirens has been replaced by the bouncing of basketballs. I have respect for any coaching staff and I am always willing to learn new things to be a better teammate and player. However, the Bears took back the ball and made last-minute shots to keep Holbrook at bay as halftime rolled in. In 2017, I became a volunteer assistant for the boys basketball program. Cooper Burbank, #10, Is the Wildcats Captain Height: 6'1" Sophomore Advertisement The Holbrook Roadrunners was the only boys team from Navajo that made it to the semis, and it played its hardest against the Coolidge Bears. They see that we can overcome our own obstacles, then they can relate to their own obstacles and know for a fact they can overcome, if they put their minds to it.. And we overcame that and to do what we did thats incredible.. Using its speed and shooting, Coolidge took a 21-11 first-quarter lead. 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. Nobody was giving us any credit all year but thats OK. Signs hang along fences, warning against the spread of Covid-19. He averages 21.4 points per game and is instrumental in Chinles 18-4 record this season. Lewis and Burbank are a winning combination that has led the Wildcats to victory. Surrounded by dirt, mountains and desert, the paved road is rare. Rezball 33m Used to playing a looser style called "rezball," Chinle players try to adjust to coach Raul Mendoza's more structured system as the season approaches. Due to federal privacy regulations, we are not able to create an athlete profile for students under 13 years old. Excelling in all areas of my life is a priority for myself. 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. Theres this very cyclical life viewpoint of everything, Martin said. Brenen Jishie graduated in 2018 and his current college plans are unknown. Posted by Dewayne Tom onTuesday, February 13, 2018. Thats his mentality, and hes never satisfied where he is at now. He is one individual that I never had to worry about in terms of attitude. Chinle High School is a public high school (grades 9 to 12) in Chinle, an unincorporated area of Apache County, . Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Navajo groups get new Liberated Paths grants, Police Blotter: Hopi officer shot during traffic stop, Being cut from b-ball fortuitous for KC wrestler, Hardship Assistance frequently asked questions, Fort Defiance Agency Spelling Bee champs advance to final bee, A-C-T-I-N-I-C: Shonto dominates Western Navajo Bee, Police Blotter | New Mexico Police checkpoints and saturation patrols set in counties across state this month, Letter | Potential common ground between Western thought development, nature, Guest Column | 'By the powers-that-be in Santa Fe: Lundstrom gets things done. With the pandemic going on, it has stopped a lot but I find ways to make up for all the time that couldve been spent training, said Cooper. 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 And even outside the United States, other people from foreign countries messaging to tell me how it was very influential on them and had a big impact, making them want to get better, he said. The Wildcat Denn is believed to be the14th largest gym in the country, with 12 of the others located in Indiana. The Wildcats will play Alchesay at 4 p.m. in todays title game at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. d&:WD fF All these people that say, Yes, youre allowed to come and tell these stories, theyre the stars of this show, he said. x}q{}E!39|@D)qg`K[s@ 3+QlH#Qy:="3=32/?=O??xc?NjQ^={m]:rzOU>#O|]o"Z}t>`NH)yx8.@Z?WTxtx= !Zcr` e.{gE!U[@kuoo- Dont Miss:Jason Brown Wiki,Former ICC Coach On Netflixs Last Chance U, Malik Henry Wiki,Former ICC Quarterback from Netflixs , Bobby Bruce Wiki,Former ICC Pirates Player from Netflixs , Jason Brown Wiki,Former ICC Coach On Netflixs . PbIc%`s@D8'ZRl Other Navajo athletes who made it big are his inspiration. His parents are Darrick and Joni Allen-Burbank and they live in Rock Point, AZ. Dont worryNCSA is Dec 28, 2021 | 6:30 PM MST Lakeside, AZ Watch Later. This includes health and safety initiatives, participation opportunities for all, and especially fan content. As a Native American, we do not always have the most exposure or opportunities, however I feel like if I can excel in the classroom and on the court, it will allow more doors to be opened to play basketball beyond high school. The population of Chinle increased in the 1960s and enrollment was over 1,000 in 1986. Weve done some digging into Chinles basketball team to find out what theyre up to post-Basketball Or Nothing and what lies ahead for the next season. But where are the rest of the Chinle Wildcats now and how is the team doing? So the community of Chinle just opened their arms to us and that allowed us to tell the story. profiles were viewed 4.1 million times by college coaches in 2021. Welcome To The Jungle Holiday Tournament Hosted by Gilbert High School Gilbert High School Basketball - Boy's Chandler Casteel Gilbert Valley Vista and 4 more Details November 21, 2022 - November 26, 2022 2022 Phoenix Union High School District Coyote Basketball Classic Hosted by Central High School South Mountain High School Central High School The Falcons advance with a 64-37 win. They are warriors because their normal lives would be challenging to others. GRV Media Ltd, 18 Mulberry Avenue, Widnes. After graduating in 2020, he joined the Navajo Times as a sportswriter for two years before leaving in September 2022. But other than that, we gave it our all, we had a heck of a season and all we can do is take off our hat and say the better team won.. In the girls bracket, Alchesay overtook Holbrook, 64-37, and Chinle trump Bourgade Catholic, 49-42, setting up a championship game featuring Navajo vs. Apache. 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.. His dedication to the game is impeccable.. Get Discovered by college coaches. Equipment isnt available as it is there. Its like the heart of the Navajo Nation here, McCurtain said. Our team in Chinle has been working hard to assist customers and make sure that they are happy.