Holiday Hoopfest Classic Day One Standouts

Day one of the Rio Rancho Holiday Hoopfest Classic delivered exciting plays and standout performances across the board. Each game showcased different playing styles and skill sets, setting the tone for a highly competitive tournament. With shooting, defense, and athleticism on full display, the players highlighted here look primed for strong performances throughout the rest of the event and the season ahead.    [player_tooltip player_id='2111977' first='David' last='Lunn'] was a force in the first game of the tournament. He used his size and physicality to his advantage throughout the game. Whenever David had the opportunity to get to the basket, he capitalized. He showed a soft touch around the rim to finish easy looks, while also being capable of throwing it down when needed. His size and strength also allowed him to draw fouls and consistently get to the free-throw line.   His heads-up, smart defense was on display on day one as well. David has quick feet and can stay with ball handlers when they drive into the paint. He used his speed to get a steal from behind, which turned into an emphatic transition dunk.     [player_tooltip player_id='2175829' first='Dylan' last='Lansing'] was a man on a mission in his first game of the tournament. He did everything possible to put his team in the best position to win. With his team trailing heading into the fourth quarter, Dylan stepped up and led the charge to force overtime. Navajo Prep secured the win in overtime, and Dylan's performance was a major reason why.   Dylan finished the game with 31 points, shooting 10-of-19 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. Most impressive was his ability to create chaos on the defensive end, where he consistently disrupted plays. Dylan ended the game with an outstanding 8 steals.     Brayden shined in overtime by securing an offensive rebound and converting a putback to give Navajo Prep a two-point lead. He then stepped to the free-throw line and calmly knocked down his shots to extend the lead to four. Brayden finished the game shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 6-of-8 from the line, ending with 16 points and 8 rebounds.   Brayden Benally was a calm and steady presence for Navajo Prep in their first game of the tournament. He paired well with [player_tooltip player_id='2175829' first='Dylan' last='Lansing'] to help lead the team to an overtime victory. Brayden is a strong rebounder who outlets the ball quickly and effectively. His passing ability stands out for his position, and he is not afraid to make the extra pass when the opportunity is there.     [player_tooltip player_id='2714567' first='Isaiah' last='Brown'] delivered a strong offensive performance in his first game of the tournament. He used his quick first step to get into the paint and his soft touch to finish, while also showing the ability to score through contact at the rim. When the defense gave him space, he confidently let it fly from deep. In the first half, Isaiah knocked down back-to-back three-pointers, forcing the defense to face-guard him around the court.   Isaiah is also a strong on-ball defender who makes it difficult for opposing offenses to execute. He consistently found himself in the right position for defensive rebounds, even with taller players around him.     [player_tooltip player_id='2960755' first='Samuel' last='Marez'] was effective attacking the basket throughout the game. He used his size well when driving to the lane, consistently drawing fouls and finishing through contact with strong body control. His passing ability was on display all game, as he used his vision and quick decision-making to push the ball up the court in transition.   Samuel's decision-making also stood out in pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop situations. When the defense dropped back to take away the roll, he calmly punished them by knocking down mid-range shots.     [player_tooltip player_id='2694572' first='Cayden' last='Richardson'] consistently got to the basket with ease for Rio Rancho. As an athletic player, he used his ability to outjump defenders and his change of pace to create scoring opportunities at the rim. Throughout the game, he was active around the basket, battling for rebounds and converting putbacks. He was able to get to his spots consistently and impose his will offensively.   Rio Rancho plays strong, physical defense, and Cayden's athleticism is a key component of that identity.

Day one of the Rio Rancho Holiday Hoopfest Classic delivered exciting plays and standout performances across the board. Each game showcased different playing styles and skill sets, setting the tone for a highly competitive tournament. With shooting, defense, and athleticism on full display, the players highlighted here look primed for strong performances throughout the rest of the event and the season ahead.