Kirtland Central Wins 22nd Title, Tsosie Named County's Top Girls Player

Allyson Tsosie scored a game-high 17 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and recorded six steals as Kirtland Central defeated Gallup 52-33 at The Pit in Albuquerque, delivering the Broncos their 22nd state championship and their second title in three seasons. Tsosie, a sophomore, was named the Tri-City Record's top girls basketball player in San Juan County after totaling 67 points across the four-game tournament.

The numbers that defined Tsosie's season reflect what she has become to this program. She averaged 15.5 points per game, second in Class 4A, and shot 55% from the field, first in the state. Coach Devon Manning told her before the tournament that she would need to "shoot probably 13 to 17 times per game for us to win state." She met that challenge in every round.

The title game's momentum shifted midway through the second quarter, when Tsosie hit back-to-back 3-pointers following a slow start from the field. Haylee Nocki added a 3-pointer of her own in that frame, and Kirtland Central outscored Gallup 16-8 in the period to take a 24-17 halftime lead. After the break, the Broncos turned the game into a rout, pairing offensive efficiency with a relentless press that forced the Bengals into 25 turnovers, which Kirtland Central converted into 19 points.

Tsosie accounted for six of the Broncos' 14 steals. Junior Elaina Claini added 15 points for Kirtland Central, while Gallup's Mykeia Vicenti finished with 11 and Kayden Tsosie posted nine points and nine rebounds for the Bengals. Gallup, which ended its season 27-5, shot just 26% from the field and converted only 5 of 21 shots after halftime. The Broncos shot 40% for the game and finished the season 29-3.

In the final seconds, Manning pulled his seniors off the floor to mark the moment. Senior Krista Tsingine-Yazzie closed her Broncos career with nine rebounds and two steals in the championship game. "The rides with the girls, the practices and the opportunities to play here have been great," Tsingine-Yazzie said. Seniors Nocki, Kaylyn Cadman, Alana Sanders and Bahozhoni Crosby were recognized alongside her.

Manning was clear about what the gesture meant. "It was to tell them that they're leaving this program better than when they found it," he said. "The hard work and the yelling and screaming was worth it in the end."

Across Tsosie's three seasons with Kirtland Central, the Broncos have compiled an 86-10 record and won two state titles. Tsosie was part of a title run as an eighth grader, and her rapid ascent, including a first-in-state field-goal percentage and a 67-point postseason, has drawn the attention of college recruiters and regional observers who compare her trajectory to past local stars who advanced to higher-level play. With two more seasons ahead of her at Kirtland, the 22nd banner raised at The Pit is less a capstone than a preview.