#2 Tuba City Defeats #1 Snowflake in Thriller for First State Title Since 2002

The Tuba City Warriors took down the Snowflake Lobos 59-55 in a thriller on Saturday night in front of a loud and proud crowd.

Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum was packed for the 3A girls Copper Championship, probably the most packed game in any of the state championship games on Saturday or the ones that will be played next Saturday. 

Tuba City fans made the three-hour and 15-minute drive to make the 12.5K Coliseum almost at capacity and feel like a home game for the Warriors. 

With that being said, at the beginning of the game, it was a slow start for both sides. 

Getting the game started was Snowflake senior guard Bryn Kupfer getting two quick baskets.

Tuba City struggled to get much momentum going on offense, but their senior forward, Aubrey Begaye, was able to score five of their nine first-quarter points. 

The Lobos would benefit from their defense in the first quarter. 

Snowflake had a total of six steals as a team and was able to score 10 of its 13 points in the first quarter off turnovers.

At the end of the first quarter, Snowflake led 13-9. 

To begin the second quarter, the Lobos were able to get hot from behind the arc.

Snowflake senior center Ranell West rattled off two quick three-pointers to give her team a 10-point lead. 

The Lobos also relied on Kupfer to keep getting baskets in the paint, as she had another four points in the second quarter.

Tuba City would be able to crawl its way back into the game, though. 

A big factor in the second quarter was Tuba City freshman guard Layla Curtis putting pressure on the rim and getting to the free-throw line.

In the second quarter alone, Curtis had six points off free throws. 

The Warriors knew Snowflake would focus on Curtis and made sure she got to the rim as many times as possible.

“We knew that they were going to face guard me the whole game,” Curtis said. “I just got to the rim and did what I could.” 

Tuba City sophomore guard Nakota Tallman was also able to catch fire in the second quarter. 

She had nine points in quarter two, one of them being a buzzer-beater three-pointer to end the first half. 

Snowflake led Tuba City 30-29 at halftime. 

At the beginning of the third quarter, Tuba City was able to claim its first lead of the game.

Getting the lead was Tallman, who got a layup to fall.

As soon as Tuba City held the lead, the crowd erupted. 

Curtis would then pullup for a midrange that fell in.

The Lobos swiftly took their lead back as Kupfer strung together another six points in the third quarter. 

Then, capping off the quarter for Snowflake was their sophomore guard, AJ Yarn, who hit a three-pointer.

Entering the fourth quarter, Snowflake led 45-42 over Tuba City.

The Lobos continued to go with their star player in Kupfer, who made shot after shot for her team down the stretch.

Tuba City would keep the pressure on Snowflake and eventually take the lead right back.

Tuba City junior forward MaKayeli Tsinnie had clutch back-to-back layups in the fourth quarter to put the Warriors ahead. 

Snowflake had no choice but to intentionally foul late in the game. 

Once again, it was Curtis at the free-throw line, and she made two to give Tuba City some cushion.

Tuba City head coach Pete Butler mentioned that Curtis was built for these moments even as just a freshman.

“Sometimes you have a player that has all the hype, but when it comes to a big game, they never come through,” Butler said. “With Layla, she just thrives on these big moments.” 

At the end, she missed her last free-throw, but the Warriors would lean on a senior to close it out. 

After Curtis missed her free throw, Tuba City senior forward Raquel Lee got a steal and put up a layup as time expired to crown Tuba City the Copper Champions. 

Tuba City would take down Snowflake and be crowned the 2026 champions of the Copper bracket. 

Curtis was named MVP of the game and said the reason this team was so special was because of their mindset.

“As small as they are, their mindset is through the roof,” Curtis said. “They don’t care about size; they just come here to play and win.” 

This was the goal for Tuba City: to be at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum and play for the state title.

“I told them that their whole goal is to play the last game of the season,” Butler said. “We got here.”