Basketball or Nothing (2019) s01e01 Episode Script
Rezball
[man.]
There's really nothing goin' on in Chinle.
There's no clubs.
No dance, no movie theater There's really no outlet for the kids or the adults.
We're on the rez.
It's like, uh alcohol and the, uh bad side of life home environment, violence, maybe havin', uh alcoholic parents and stuff.
Chinle basketball is kind of, like, uh an addiction to some people.
It brings a little bit of happiness for them.
- [boys chanting.]
Ooh, aah, ooh, aah! - [cheering.]
[announcer.]
We've got the fans here tonight! [man.]
Our student athletes are kind of a a modern-day warrior.
And in our culture, a warrior is defined as somebody who represents their people not just a fighter.
[commentator.]
Fired and locked down.
[laughs.]
I love it.
[boy.]
This team actually could make history for Chinle.
It could win Chinle's first state championship, you know.
We always dream big.
Good job! Good job! [cheering.]
Whoo! [man.]
If we could raise a state title banner, the pride it would bring to our community It It would mean everything.
A state title is a chance for our kids to get noticed outside the reservation, and maybe even give them a shot at a better life.
Oh, yeah! [commentator.]
What a night.
What a night at Chinle.
[man.]
We want them to make history in Chinle.
They have that potential.
It's it's right there for them.
And this year, I believe we can finally do it.
[woman singing in Navajo.]
[chorus singing in Navajo.]
[Shaun.]
Chinle is a town of about 4,500 people.
It's right in the heart of the Navajo Nation.
The Nation is over 27,000 square miles, and it extends into three different states, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.
In northeastern Arizona, we don't have a Triple-A farm team.
We don't have a semi-pro football or baseball team.
We have a high school basketball team.
[ringing tone.]
- Hello.
- Hey, Sophie, Shaun here.
- Shaun.
Good morning.
- Good morning.
Hey, uh Wrestling is Five years ago, when I was first hired as athletic director, our basketball team won four games, and that's just not gonna cut it around here.
- Okay.
Thanks, Sophie.
- Bye.
The way I view this whole department, is I want the best for my kids.
I call all these kids "my kids".
You know, I want the best coach available for my kids.
We decided we wanted Coach Mendoza, and we were able to land him two years ago.
He's coached for over 40 years.
He's been to eight final fours.
He's been to four state title games, and he's even won the Arizona state championships.
He's a legend on the rez.
And, oh, yeah, name me one other high school coach in America that has had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as an assistant coach.
I'll see you.
[Shaun.]
He knows the struggles we deal with, he knows what it takes to take a team like ours deep into the tournament bracket.
Got to keep the dogs out.
[Coach Mendoza.]
As a head coach, my whole purpose is to win a state championship.
I knew that Chinle's always had talent.
With my background, I always believed that there's always a first time.
And so, when I first came up here two years back, I said, "Hey, we wanna win a state championship.
" Right away, I started telling the kids that, you know, that's our goal.
Saying, "You gotta believe, you gotta believe.
" I think with the kids, a lot of it is psychological.
So we've been talking about a lot of things and trying to build up to this point, you know, trying to get them to relax to where they they're able to to go and play, and not worry about other things, distractions But, we'll see.
Coach Mendoza, he knows what it takes to change lives, using basketball as a catalyst with education.
There's many student athletes he's coached that have received college scholarships, that are off doing bigger and better things in the world.
Before I came here, they had ten coaches in in eight years.
So, if Chinle will keep me here, I would love to stay here and coach for for a long time.
But that's not a a given.
Hey, if we if we play well, everything will fall in place.
If we don't play well, then we don't get it done.
Okay.
Meal check for tomorrow Okay, good.
- Plus car.
- Thank you.
The kids will love to know that we've got meals.
- All right.
All right, Coach.
- Thank you.
Yep.
[Raul.]
Okay, on the baseline.
[player.]
Go, to you.
[Raul.]
Hustle.
Okay, listen.
Now, tomorrow first game of the year.
You have to know what you're doing.
The biggest thing you've got to remember, if we can take care of the ball, if everybody can do that as a group, we'll be tough to beat.
[whistle blows.]
[Shaun.]
Our particular brand here in this area we play rezball.
Let's go.
No dribble.
No dribble.
Go.
Just go hard, just go hard.
Don't dribble.
Rezball is a unique style of basketball and suits our strengths.
[player.]
Rezball's just like running and gunning, just pushing the ball, pushing the ball, getting the open shot, taking the shot, coming back down, and doing the same thing over and over.
[Shaun.]
As Navajo people, were not very big in stature.
So, for us to be effective against some of these bigger teams, we basically have to run them out of the gym.
[Josiah.]
Rezball to us is, like, really fun.
So we just like to have fun with it and we love to push the ball.
Our coach really doesn't like that kind of basketball, and tells us to stay away from it.
[Raul.]
Hold it, hold it, hold it.
Now Hold it.
You're just running around.
Make sure you know where you're supposed to go.
Do it again, do it again.
[Raul.]
Rezball.
You know I really don't understand it, but that's that's why I asked.
There's no structure.
Not there, not there! We We're not being patient.
We're trying to take every first shot that comes around.
We don't want that.
Calm down a little bit, you're trying to rush everything.
I love to run, as long as there's a structure.
And I always try to tell the kids, you know, "You have to make the best decision.
" Okay, hold it, hold it.
Yeah.
Again.
We're just bunching up, guys.
That's not what we want.
Let's do it again.
I want to walk through it.
My job is to teach the kids how to play basketball, and learn how to play, and be able to play the game as it should be played.
Recognize it.
Move the ball.
There it is, right there.
There you go.
[player.]
Coach has won championships.
So he has the experience to know, or he knows what to do to get there.
So that's how, we just follow him.
Defensively is probably the the thing I'm concerned about.
If everybody plays good defense, then we'll I I guarantee you, it's almost a given that we can do well.
Be patient.
That's gonna be the difference.
Now, tomorrow, everybody wear slacks, a dress shirt, a tie and hopefully, you shave, okay? If you If you look good they're gonna say, "Oh, man.
These guys mean business.
" Okay? Here we go.
Break! [all.]
One, two, three, Wildcats! [cheering.]
[Raul.]
You wanna shoot for a few minutes, that's okay.
Get your jerseys over here so we can put them in the wash.
[player.]
Coach, I don't have to shave, right? Am I good? Get the laundry.
This year is a a special group of kids.
Because of my background, I'm able to relate them.
I can understand them.
Home wasn't a pleasant situation for me.
I know there's a detergent somewhere, but I don't know where it is.
My mom and my dad divorced when I was a year old.
So I never saw my dad.
I met him when I was about 13 years old.
He said, "Hi," and I said, "Hi," that was it.
And then he told me that he was an alcoholic, and, uh within a year, he passed on.
I became personally responsible for my half-brothers and sisters.
At the time, I had to haul water, chop wood did everything a man had to do, because there was no man in the house.
I was the I was the man.
It was hard, but I had no choice.
For me, it was a matter of survival.
[ball bouncing.]
Opening up against Snowflake It's always That's a tough game.
It's always a tough game.
And just to open up against them is pretty challenging.
Our team kind of grew up together.
We always dreamed of winning State.
Uh, this is our year where we could probably make school history, 'cause Chinle has never won a state championship before.
So, that would be nice for us to be the first ones to win State.
And it would be a big goal for us, be a big dream.
And I would love that very much.
Just probably be a good memory to look back on when we get older.
You know? [chuckles.]
[Josiah.]
Around here on the reservation, you can't find a good paying job without a degree anymore.
The only way for me to get into college right now is through an athletic scholarship.
It's really stressful, but whenever I want to give up, I just think about my family.
As a son, I I love him.
Every day, in and out, we hug each other.
And he's my big baby.
All three of my kids.
Since he was small, he was always active.
He went and did a lot of sports.
I saved all his bibs.
Some of them I put away.
And then, these are all all his medals here, and and it is heavy.
Some coaches tell him that he's too short, but then he determines.
He says, "I'll prove you wrong.
" And he does.
I'm so proud of my son.
I've always been counted out or something just because of my height.
But, you know, that doesn't bother me.
When I'm playing, it feels like I'm just as tall as everyone else.
You know, I think that strength comes from my struggles that I went through as a as a kid.
I have a lot of good memories with my dad.
Kids always think their dads are the best man in the world.
You know, we'd always go to the beach and stuff like that.
One of the funniest things actually was when we went to Washington DC, I think we dressed for summer, but it was snowing over there.
[laughs.]
We ended up just buying jackets, because it was so cold.
When we relocated here, it actually took a lot out of us.
My dad used to actually kind of treat my mom bad sometimes.
I would see him intoxicated a lot.
Dad left us.
And, you know, I didn't want to believe it.
I'm like, "How could he leave us? How could he do this to us?" You know? That's when things started going downhill for us.
We had no running water, we had no electricity.
Sometimes, we would have to go to my relatives' to shower.
But, you know, my mom, she worked really hard, she got a job, and now, she got us running water, she got us electricity, you know? She puts food on the table for us.
She does all this for me, and that's why I do what I do, because I want to get a get a scholarship to go to college and, uh, you know, get a good paying job, so I can take care of her the way she took care of me.
I'm happy and my kids motivate me to keep going every day.
This is my sister, Tia.
She's gonna be taller than me, 'cause, you know, she had a different dad.
I'm going to make sure she becomes a good person you know, be the best person that she can be.
But, definitely, I'm gonna make sure that she's a better person than me.
I want to be like my brother.
He makes me happy.
When Mom's gone, he hugs me so I can be safe, and - It's okay.
- [sniffles.]
- Sh.
- [sniffles.]
[sighs.]
[crying.]
So I want to be just like my brother.
Okay.
I think she's done talking now.
It doesn't really matter where you come from, or what kind of struggles you had.
It's just how much you can take and keep moving forward.
Yeah, I shed my tears here and there.
I just keep going, just to always think of my family.
[shoes squeaking on court.]
[man.]
You know what I think - [bell rings.]
- Ooh, yeah! [Raul.]
You're a sophomore, you're a senior.
[laughter.]
We're ready for our picture.
[laughter.]
All right, guys.
- Ohh! - [laughter.]
- Smile at that! - [laughter.]
Sure! [Shaun.]
Our families can have warriors.
Obviously, our tribe has warriors.
And here, our basketball team serves as our school and community warriors.
[photographer.]
One serious.
Okay, a serious one.
- Move up.
- Hey, I can't be serious! [Shaun.]
These young men go out and represent our people on the basketball court all over the state of Arizona.
Do your crazy pose.
Three, two [Shaun.]
Some of these kids don't have parental figures around.
- Okay, ready? - Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! [Shaun.]
The family that they create within themselves on the team, it's literally a second family that our kids are creating.
[laughter.]
That's exciting to me.
You look like Zion now.
Yeah.
We won't get your muscles all in the frame.
[laughter.]
[chuckles.]
[Raul.]
This team that we have, they're a young team, but they're very talented.
[photographer.]
All right, Cooper, we need a basketball move now.
You ready? [Raul.]
I always believed that you want your captains to have character uh, integrity, you know, things, like that make them different from everybody else.
And Cooper is a I think he's a special young man.
Hey! Watch your ankle.
Watch your ankle.
- I shall! - [laughter.]
So, I say, "Hey, I want you to be one of the captains.
Is that okay with you?" And he said he'd accept the challenge.
You ready? Three, two, one Nice.
[school bell rings.]
And for him, as a sophomore, he's not afraid to take that role and accept it.
And I told him, I said, "You know, we're gonna go as far as you take us.
" [Cooper.]
For being a captain is that role to lead everyone and be an example.
It's an honor, you know.
I feel that a lot of pride from that.
And I use it to, like, push myself, keep that fire in me going, to light up the fire in everyone.
[commentator.]
Cooper Burbank, with the drive.
And the lay-in is good! What a move by Cooper Burbank! There's very few players that have come through with natural talents, like Cooper.
[cheering.]
[commentator.]
Beautifully delivered! Wow! [Mo.]
He might be our first Division 1 player out of Chinle.
[commentator.]
Pull up shot.
Burbank trains to three.
[Raul.]
He's one of those kids that you'll probably see every ten years as a coach, or maybe not at all, you know.
And I think that, by the time he's done here, he's gonna be the GOAT of Chinle.
You know, he has that potential.
[Cooper.]
Many people tell me stuff.
Good and bad, you know.
I'm always taught to stay humble, you know.
Just, like, be a sponge, you know, and just take it in and get better, keep getting better.
Aah, here's all the players I look up to.
Each person has something that I watch or take from them.
Um I admire Stephen Curry with his shooting.
That's my favorite player, Kevin Durant, right there.
The thing I like about Kevin Durant is, like he is a big man, and but he doesn't play like it, you know, he plays like a point guard, you know? He can dribble and can shoot, things that not even some point guards can do, you know? He's doing it as at the height of almost seven feet tall.
And that's what I would like to do, as well.
As tall as I am, I would like to handle and shoot just like him.
I'd like one day for someone to have, like my name across their back or something, or even a poster of me.
[woman.]
Don't you have the roster? The roster? I have a copy of it on one of the clipboards.
Look for the clipboard.
You organized this.
- Like the blind leading the blind.
- [both laugh.]
Right here.
Okay.
See, I told you it was on a clipboard.
That part, I was right.
Ah, this is an old one.
[both laughing.]
Well, tell the guys to come and get their jerseys.
- Okay.
- That way we'll know - what jerseys they have.
- Okay.
[Josiah.]
Nervous for the season.
People have so much expectation for us.
We don't want to let them down.
We don't wanna give Chinle a bad rep.
It's not gonna fit.
[chuckles.]
So Even if I do roll it up a few, I don't think it will fit me.
Look at that.
Look at that! [laughs.]
[Chance.]
Our away games are pretty far.
We basically just sleep on our away games, and getting home late at night at 12:00.
We have to go to school the next day.
It's kind of hard, but it's fun.
[laughs.]
[commentator.]
Hi, everyone, from Lobo Gymnasium in Snowflake, Arizona.
Welcome to Northland basketball.
A big one tonight to kick off things, as two of the top teams in Arizona's 3A conference meet up.
That'll be us.
The pre-season rankings came out two days ago and Chinle starts off in the ninth spot.
The Lobos of Snowflake, they're ranked number eight.
And come February, the top 24 teams in Arizona make the state playoffs.
Raul Mendoza certainly wants to be in that group.
[Cooper.]
We can be pretty good, you know, we've got everything.
We've got the speed, we've got shooting, we've got rebounding.
So, we just need to put it all together and make and be one team.
[Raul.]
Yeah.
A couple of things Don't take the first shot that's open.
Make sure that we we take the shot that we can that we want, not what they give us.
Another thing, don't get in a hurry.
When they press us, we're not gonna get in a hurry, we're gonna get it across the court and set up and run the offense.
If they're big, like I heard they are, then it's gonna be hard for them to get up and down the court.
We wanna go up and down the court, 'cause that's our strength.
Josiah, he'll he'll he'll go.
He's in shape.
He's not gonna get tired.
He's just gonna run as hard as he can.
Okay? You're from the Navajo reservation.
We're here representing Chinle.
[Cooper.]
Let's go, let's go! [Raul.]
A lot of people came from Chinle, and they're here.
- What up, Mo? - Yeah! - Yeah! - You good? [Raul.]
It's something that motivates you to play hard.
[chanting.]
Ooh aah This is a chance for you guys to show what you can do as a team.
[yelling.]
[crowd cheering and whistling.]
[chanting.]
[commentator.]
This ought to be a great matchup tonight.
It's a contrast in style.
The Lobos are a big team, the Wildcats a little bit small, a little bit quicker.
A legend on the rez, Coach Raul Mendoza.
We'll get a first look at his team in action.
Hey, the stands are full with devoted Wildcat fans and they're looking to start their season on the right foot, as they get set to tip it up.
[Raul.]
Behind you! Snowflake controls the tip.
And they immediately blow past Josiah Tsosie for the easy lay-in.
[Raul.]
Come to the ball! Josiah Tsosie turns the ball over and Snowflake takes it up the floor.
[man.]
Yeah! Come on.
It was a weak pass.
Gotta take the ball the other way.
Hey, let's get a good shot.
Let's go.
Get a good shot.
Ball goes into the left corner.
Cooper Burbank for three.
And the shot is good.
And the Wildcats are on the board.
Burbank again on the drive and Oh, a wild shot by Cooper.
[Raul.]
Gotta shoot it, go far up there.
Time out.
We're just making mental mistakes.
You can't take shots like that.
If you don't have a shot, just dribble it out or pull up, You know, throwing it up is not gonna help us a whole lot.
Josiah Tsosie hits Burbank with a very nice feed and he finishes it off.
Josiah Tsosie in the corner.
The three is up.
The three is good.
It was a bumpy start, but Coach Mendoza got his team turned around, and now they're in a nice groove.
The Wildcats have grabbed an 11-point lead here at the break.
[Raul.]
Now the thing that's killing us right now is that we're doing things we're not supposed to do.
We missed lay-ups, we just tried to finger roll.
Don't get greedy and try to force it when it's not there.
The idea is not how many shots we we take, it's how many good shots we take.
That's the difference between an average team, a mediocre team, and a good team.
The team that do the little things, that make the lay-up, make the free throws, make the good passes That's gonna be the difference.
You know, right now, we're up, - but we've got a whole half to go, guys.
- [Cooper.]
Let's go.
Back to the action here at Snowflake High School early in the second half.
It's been all Wildcats.
Cooper Burbank, the crossover pull up The shot is good.
- Wildcats' lead has grown to 18.
- [whistle blows.]
We're up! We can go further, but we've gotta be smart.
Hey, don't beat ourselves.
Let's go.
[commentator.]
Josiah Tsosie trapped, his pass, right to the Lobos, they'll take it the other way and there's the lay-in.
Be patient.
Josiah Tsosie drives, forces up the shot, gets off the mark.
[Raul.]
Josiah! And Snowflake has got the ball again.
[Raul.]
Shoot us out of the game.
Go get him.
He just wants to shoot the ball.
Josiah! Coach Mendoza has decided to give his point guard a rest.
He heads to the bench with eight points but five turnovers.
Come on.
You gotta get your head in the game.
[referee.]
All right! Snowflake jump shot, eight.
Snowflake might have a pulse here.
They score a couple of quick buckets, give their fans some hope.
[Raul.]
We can't let 'em get back in the game.
We have to be disciplined.
Play better defense.
Okay? Lobos on the drive, the dish, Cooper steals the pass.
It's knocked away and it might have gone off Cooper's legs.
And it's Snowflake's basketball.
- Cooper! - [whistle blows.]
- He's just not there.
- Yeah.
Stay in the game! Don't Don't space out! - Hey, focus on what you're doing.
- [buzzer sounds.]
[commentator.]
The Wildcats' lead is dwindling.
The Lobos are not gonna go away quietly.
They keep hanging around out there.
[Raul.]
Listen, keep playing! Don't give up! You gotta want it more than they do! [cheering.]
[commentator.]
And the game is tied, 69-69.
Unbelievable.
The Snowflake Lobos have battled all the way back from 18 down to knotted up.
The Wildcats need somebody, anybody to step up on offense.
- [Raul.]
Time out.
- [whistle blows.]
Now, listen.
This is what we're doing.
Cooper, you're right here.
You're gonna act ike you're gonna set the pick, and just go, okay? And then Josiah, you're here.
Okay? One of you guys are gonna get it.
So, with the game on the line, it looks like Josiah Tsosie is coming back in.
[all.]
One, two, three, WIldcats! Snowflake with pressure defense, Chance Harvey brings it up the left side and up from there.
Back to the top, Josiah Tsosie has it.
And a pass nearly stolen by the Lobos.
But Burbank picks it up, saves it for the Wildcats.
Sixty-nine, sixty-nine.
Dewayne Tom on the right angle.
Nothing there for him.
Passes it up, swing it around left side.
Seconds to play.
Cooper Burbank from the corner, a three up and good! [Raul.]
Yeah! The Wildcats have made the shot, and Chinle is gonna come away with a victory at Snowflake, 72 to 69, to begin their brand-new season.
[Raul.]
Okay, we've gotta look at this tonight as something to learn from.
Good to win, but again, look at how we played.
All those mental mistakes We can't have it.
We could have beat them by 15 or more, easily.
But we seem like we When we got ahead, some of you guys relaxed.
You can't do that.
You gotta keep playing through the whole thing.
Otherwise, you know, it was a win but this is something you In order to beat a tough team, you've gotta be mentally tough too.
I thought mentally, we lost in the second half.
We weren't there mentally, and that was the biggest thing.
That's just something you've gotta learn.
Look at yourself in the mirror and say, "What did I do that I need to correct?" All of us can go down and say, "What did I do that I need to correct?" And that's how you become better as individuals.
And as a team, we're gonna get better as we go.
Okay? Break.
Go.
- [Cooper.]
Wildcats on three.
- One, two, three.
Wildcats! Put your jerseys in one area so we can pick them up.
[Raul.]
As a head coach, I've seen kids that are very talented, very good players, but didn't even get a chance to go to state playoffs.
[player.]
My man, 27 points, Coop! [player 2.]
Damn, Coop.
[Raul.]
Good shot, Coop.
I always try to get the kids to understand that getting into the playoffs is a special thing.
A lot of it is the mental thing.
Everything has to fall in place to win the state championship.
You know, this team that we have, we have a group of seniors.
We're gonna lose 'em next year.
You know, our guys have to learn to realize the urgency, I guess you could say.
We have the capability of winning the whole thing.
Why not go for it now? It's your time to accomplish the impossible, which is something that we've never done here in Chinle, win a state championship.
So I'm hoping that the kids are starting to begin to understand that this this is it.
This is the time to do it.
This is the year.
[man singing in Navajo.]
There's really nothing goin' on in Chinle.
There's no clubs.
No dance, no movie theater There's really no outlet for the kids or the adults.
We're on the rez.
It's like, uh alcohol and the, uh bad side of life home environment, violence, maybe havin', uh alcoholic parents and stuff.
Chinle basketball is kind of, like, uh an addiction to some people.
It brings a little bit of happiness for them.
- [boys chanting.]
Ooh, aah, ooh, aah! - [cheering.]
[announcer.]
We've got the fans here tonight! [man.]
Our student athletes are kind of a a modern-day warrior.
And in our culture, a warrior is defined as somebody who represents their people not just a fighter.
[commentator.]
Fired and locked down.
[laughs.]
I love it.
[boy.]
This team actually could make history for Chinle.
It could win Chinle's first state championship, you know.
We always dream big.
Good job! Good job! [cheering.]
Whoo! [man.]
If we could raise a state title banner, the pride it would bring to our community It It would mean everything.
A state title is a chance for our kids to get noticed outside the reservation, and maybe even give them a shot at a better life.
Oh, yeah! [commentator.]
What a night.
What a night at Chinle.
[man.]
We want them to make history in Chinle.
They have that potential.
It's it's right there for them.
And this year, I believe we can finally do it.
[woman singing in Navajo.]
[chorus singing in Navajo.]
[Shaun.]
Chinle is a town of about 4,500 people.
It's right in the heart of the Navajo Nation.
The Nation is over 27,000 square miles, and it extends into three different states, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.
In northeastern Arizona, we don't have a Triple-A farm team.
We don't have a semi-pro football or baseball team.
We have a high school basketball team.
[ringing tone.]
- Hello.
- Hey, Sophie, Shaun here.
- Shaun.
Good morning.
- Good morning.
Hey, uh Wrestling is Five years ago, when I was first hired as athletic director, our basketball team won four games, and that's just not gonna cut it around here.
- Okay.
Thanks, Sophie.
- Bye.
The way I view this whole department, is I want the best for my kids.
I call all these kids "my kids".
You know, I want the best coach available for my kids.
We decided we wanted Coach Mendoza, and we were able to land him two years ago.
He's coached for over 40 years.
He's been to eight final fours.
He's been to four state title games, and he's even won the Arizona state championships.
He's a legend on the rez.
And, oh, yeah, name me one other high school coach in America that has had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as an assistant coach.
I'll see you.
[Shaun.]
He knows the struggles we deal with, he knows what it takes to take a team like ours deep into the tournament bracket.
Got to keep the dogs out.
[Coach Mendoza.]
As a head coach, my whole purpose is to win a state championship.
I knew that Chinle's always had talent.
With my background, I always believed that there's always a first time.
And so, when I first came up here two years back, I said, "Hey, we wanna win a state championship.
" Right away, I started telling the kids that, you know, that's our goal.
Saying, "You gotta believe, you gotta believe.
" I think with the kids, a lot of it is psychological.
So we've been talking about a lot of things and trying to build up to this point, you know, trying to get them to relax to where they they're able to to go and play, and not worry about other things, distractions But, we'll see.
Coach Mendoza, he knows what it takes to change lives, using basketball as a catalyst with education.
There's many student athletes he's coached that have received college scholarships, that are off doing bigger and better things in the world.
Before I came here, they had ten coaches in in eight years.
So, if Chinle will keep me here, I would love to stay here and coach for for a long time.
But that's not a a given.
Hey, if we if we play well, everything will fall in place.
If we don't play well, then we don't get it done.
Okay.
Meal check for tomorrow Okay, good.
- Plus car.
- Thank you.
The kids will love to know that we've got meals.
- All right.
All right, Coach.
- Thank you.
Yep.
[Raul.]
Okay, on the baseline.
[player.]
Go, to you.
[Raul.]
Hustle.
Okay, listen.
Now, tomorrow first game of the year.
You have to know what you're doing.
The biggest thing you've got to remember, if we can take care of the ball, if everybody can do that as a group, we'll be tough to beat.
[whistle blows.]
[Shaun.]
Our particular brand here in this area we play rezball.
Let's go.
No dribble.
No dribble.
Go.
Just go hard, just go hard.
Don't dribble.
Rezball is a unique style of basketball and suits our strengths.
[player.]
Rezball's just like running and gunning, just pushing the ball, pushing the ball, getting the open shot, taking the shot, coming back down, and doing the same thing over and over.
[Shaun.]
As Navajo people, were not very big in stature.
So, for us to be effective against some of these bigger teams, we basically have to run them out of the gym.
[Josiah.]
Rezball to us is, like, really fun.
So we just like to have fun with it and we love to push the ball.
Our coach really doesn't like that kind of basketball, and tells us to stay away from it.
[Raul.]
Hold it, hold it, hold it.
Now Hold it.
You're just running around.
Make sure you know where you're supposed to go.
Do it again, do it again.
[Raul.]
Rezball.
You know I really don't understand it, but that's that's why I asked.
There's no structure.
Not there, not there! We We're not being patient.
We're trying to take every first shot that comes around.
We don't want that.
Calm down a little bit, you're trying to rush everything.
I love to run, as long as there's a structure.
And I always try to tell the kids, you know, "You have to make the best decision.
" Okay, hold it, hold it.
Yeah.
Again.
We're just bunching up, guys.
That's not what we want.
Let's do it again.
I want to walk through it.
My job is to teach the kids how to play basketball, and learn how to play, and be able to play the game as it should be played.
Recognize it.
Move the ball.
There it is, right there.
There you go.
[player.]
Coach has won championships.
So he has the experience to know, or he knows what to do to get there.
So that's how, we just follow him.
Defensively is probably the the thing I'm concerned about.
If everybody plays good defense, then we'll I I guarantee you, it's almost a given that we can do well.
Be patient.
That's gonna be the difference.
Now, tomorrow, everybody wear slacks, a dress shirt, a tie and hopefully, you shave, okay? If you If you look good they're gonna say, "Oh, man.
These guys mean business.
" Okay? Here we go.
Break! [all.]
One, two, three, Wildcats! [cheering.]
[Raul.]
You wanna shoot for a few minutes, that's okay.
Get your jerseys over here so we can put them in the wash.
[player.]
Coach, I don't have to shave, right? Am I good? Get the laundry.
This year is a a special group of kids.
Because of my background, I'm able to relate them.
I can understand them.
Home wasn't a pleasant situation for me.
I know there's a detergent somewhere, but I don't know where it is.
My mom and my dad divorced when I was a year old.
So I never saw my dad.
I met him when I was about 13 years old.
He said, "Hi," and I said, "Hi," that was it.
And then he told me that he was an alcoholic, and, uh within a year, he passed on.
I became personally responsible for my half-brothers and sisters.
At the time, I had to haul water, chop wood did everything a man had to do, because there was no man in the house.
I was the I was the man.
It was hard, but I had no choice.
For me, it was a matter of survival.
[ball bouncing.]
Opening up against Snowflake It's always That's a tough game.
It's always a tough game.
And just to open up against them is pretty challenging.
Our team kind of grew up together.
We always dreamed of winning State.
Uh, this is our year where we could probably make school history, 'cause Chinle has never won a state championship before.
So, that would be nice for us to be the first ones to win State.
And it would be a big goal for us, be a big dream.
And I would love that very much.
Just probably be a good memory to look back on when we get older.
You know? [chuckles.]
[Josiah.]
Around here on the reservation, you can't find a good paying job without a degree anymore.
The only way for me to get into college right now is through an athletic scholarship.
It's really stressful, but whenever I want to give up, I just think about my family.
As a son, I I love him.
Every day, in and out, we hug each other.
And he's my big baby.
All three of my kids.
Since he was small, he was always active.
He went and did a lot of sports.
I saved all his bibs.
Some of them I put away.
And then, these are all all his medals here, and and it is heavy.
Some coaches tell him that he's too short, but then he determines.
He says, "I'll prove you wrong.
" And he does.
I'm so proud of my son.
I've always been counted out or something just because of my height.
But, you know, that doesn't bother me.
When I'm playing, it feels like I'm just as tall as everyone else.
You know, I think that strength comes from my struggles that I went through as a as a kid.
I have a lot of good memories with my dad.
Kids always think their dads are the best man in the world.
You know, we'd always go to the beach and stuff like that.
One of the funniest things actually was when we went to Washington DC, I think we dressed for summer, but it was snowing over there.
[laughs.]
We ended up just buying jackets, because it was so cold.
When we relocated here, it actually took a lot out of us.
My dad used to actually kind of treat my mom bad sometimes.
I would see him intoxicated a lot.
Dad left us.
And, you know, I didn't want to believe it.
I'm like, "How could he leave us? How could he do this to us?" You know? That's when things started going downhill for us.
We had no running water, we had no electricity.
Sometimes, we would have to go to my relatives' to shower.
But, you know, my mom, she worked really hard, she got a job, and now, she got us running water, she got us electricity, you know? She puts food on the table for us.
She does all this for me, and that's why I do what I do, because I want to get a get a scholarship to go to college and, uh, you know, get a good paying job, so I can take care of her the way she took care of me.
I'm happy and my kids motivate me to keep going every day.
This is my sister, Tia.
She's gonna be taller than me, 'cause, you know, she had a different dad.
I'm going to make sure she becomes a good person you know, be the best person that she can be.
But, definitely, I'm gonna make sure that she's a better person than me.
I want to be like my brother.
He makes me happy.
When Mom's gone, he hugs me so I can be safe, and - It's okay.
- [sniffles.]
- Sh.
- [sniffles.]
[sighs.]
[crying.]
So I want to be just like my brother.
Okay.
I think she's done talking now.
It doesn't really matter where you come from, or what kind of struggles you had.
It's just how much you can take and keep moving forward.
Yeah, I shed my tears here and there.
I just keep going, just to always think of my family.
[shoes squeaking on court.]
[man.]
You know what I think - [bell rings.]
- Ooh, yeah! [Raul.]
You're a sophomore, you're a senior.
[laughter.]
We're ready for our picture.
[laughter.]
All right, guys.
- Ohh! - [laughter.]
- Smile at that! - [laughter.]
Sure! [Shaun.]
Our families can have warriors.
Obviously, our tribe has warriors.
And here, our basketball team serves as our school and community warriors.
[photographer.]
One serious.
Okay, a serious one.
- Move up.
- Hey, I can't be serious! [Shaun.]
These young men go out and represent our people on the basketball court all over the state of Arizona.
Do your crazy pose.
Three, two [Shaun.]
Some of these kids don't have parental figures around.
- Okay, ready? - Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! [Shaun.]
The family that they create within themselves on the team, it's literally a second family that our kids are creating.
[laughter.]
That's exciting to me.
You look like Zion now.
Yeah.
We won't get your muscles all in the frame.
[laughter.]
[chuckles.]
[Raul.]
This team that we have, they're a young team, but they're very talented.
[photographer.]
All right, Cooper, we need a basketball move now.
You ready? [Raul.]
I always believed that you want your captains to have character uh, integrity, you know, things, like that make them different from everybody else.
And Cooper is a I think he's a special young man.
Hey! Watch your ankle.
Watch your ankle.
- I shall! - [laughter.]
So, I say, "Hey, I want you to be one of the captains.
Is that okay with you?" And he said he'd accept the challenge.
You ready? Three, two, one Nice.
[school bell rings.]
And for him, as a sophomore, he's not afraid to take that role and accept it.
And I told him, I said, "You know, we're gonna go as far as you take us.
" [Cooper.]
For being a captain is that role to lead everyone and be an example.
It's an honor, you know.
I feel that a lot of pride from that.
And I use it to, like, push myself, keep that fire in me going, to light up the fire in everyone.
[commentator.]
Cooper Burbank, with the drive.
And the lay-in is good! What a move by Cooper Burbank! There's very few players that have come through with natural talents, like Cooper.
[cheering.]
[commentator.]
Beautifully delivered! Wow! [Mo.]
He might be our first Division 1 player out of Chinle.
[commentator.]
Pull up shot.
Burbank trains to three.
[Raul.]
He's one of those kids that you'll probably see every ten years as a coach, or maybe not at all, you know.
And I think that, by the time he's done here, he's gonna be the GOAT of Chinle.
You know, he has that potential.
[Cooper.]
Many people tell me stuff.
Good and bad, you know.
I'm always taught to stay humble, you know.
Just, like, be a sponge, you know, and just take it in and get better, keep getting better.
Aah, here's all the players I look up to.
Each person has something that I watch or take from them.
Um I admire Stephen Curry with his shooting.
That's my favorite player, Kevin Durant, right there.
The thing I like about Kevin Durant is, like he is a big man, and but he doesn't play like it, you know, he plays like a point guard, you know? He can dribble and can shoot, things that not even some point guards can do, you know? He's doing it as at the height of almost seven feet tall.
And that's what I would like to do, as well.
As tall as I am, I would like to handle and shoot just like him.
I'd like one day for someone to have, like my name across their back or something, or even a poster of me.
[woman.]
Don't you have the roster? The roster? I have a copy of it on one of the clipboards.
Look for the clipboard.
You organized this.
- Like the blind leading the blind.
- [both laugh.]
Right here.
Okay.
See, I told you it was on a clipboard.
That part, I was right.
Ah, this is an old one.
[both laughing.]
Well, tell the guys to come and get their jerseys.
- Okay.
- That way we'll know - what jerseys they have.
- Okay.
[Josiah.]
Nervous for the season.
People have so much expectation for us.
We don't want to let them down.
We don't wanna give Chinle a bad rep.
It's not gonna fit.
[chuckles.]
So Even if I do roll it up a few, I don't think it will fit me.
Look at that.
Look at that! [laughs.]
[Chance.]
Our away games are pretty far.
We basically just sleep on our away games, and getting home late at night at 12:00.
We have to go to school the next day.
It's kind of hard, but it's fun.
[laughs.]
[commentator.]
Hi, everyone, from Lobo Gymnasium in Snowflake, Arizona.
Welcome to Northland basketball.
A big one tonight to kick off things, as two of the top teams in Arizona's 3A conference meet up.
That'll be us.
The pre-season rankings came out two days ago and Chinle starts off in the ninth spot.
The Lobos of Snowflake, they're ranked number eight.
And come February, the top 24 teams in Arizona make the state playoffs.
Raul Mendoza certainly wants to be in that group.
[Cooper.]
We can be pretty good, you know, we've got everything.
We've got the speed, we've got shooting, we've got rebounding.
So, we just need to put it all together and make and be one team.
[Raul.]
Yeah.
A couple of things Don't take the first shot that's open.
Make sure that we we take the shot that we can that we want, not what they give us.
Another thing, don't get in a hurry.
When they press us, we're not gonna get in a hurry, we're gonna get it across the court and set up and run the offense.
If they're big, like I heard they are, then it's gonna be hard for them to get up and down the court.
We wanna go up and down the court, 'cause that's our strength.
Josiah, he'll he'll he'll go.
He's in shape.
He's not gonna get tired.
He's just gonna run as hard as he can.
Okay? You're from the Navajo reservation.
We're here representing Chinle.
[Cooper.]
Let's go, let's go! [Raul.]
A lot of people came from Chinle, and they're here.
- What up, Mo? - Yeah! - Yeah! - You good? [Raul.]
It's something that motivates you to play hard.
[chanting.]
Ooh aah This is a chance for you guys to show what you can do as a team.
[yelling.]
[crowd cheering and whistling.]
[chanting.]
[commentator.]
This ought to be a great matchup tonight.
It's a contrast in style.
The Lobos are a big team, the Wildcats a little bit small, a little bit quicker.
A legend on the rez, Coach Raul Mendoza.
We'll get a first look at his team in action.
Hey, the stands are full with devoted Wildcat fans and they're looking to start their season on the right foot, as they get set to tip it up.
[Raul.]
Behind you! Snowflake controls the tip.
And they immediately blow past Josiah Tsosie for the easy lay-in.
[Raul.]
Come to the ball! Josiah Tsosie turns the ball over and Snowflake takes it up the floor.
[man.]
Yeah! Come on.
It was a weak pass.
Gotta take the ball the other way.
Hey, let's get a good shot.
Let's go.
Get a good shot.
Ball goes into the left corner.
Cooper Burbank for three.
And the shot is good.
And the Wildcats are on the board.
Burbank again on the drive and Oh, a wild shot by Cooper.
[Raul.]
Gotta shoot it, go far up there.
Time out.
We're just making mental mistakes.
You can't take shots like that.
If you don't have a shot, just dribble it out or pull up, You know, throwing it up is not gonna help us a whole lot.
Josiah Tsosie hits Burbank with a very nice feed and he finishes it off.
Josiah Tsosie in the corner.
The three is up.
The three is good.
It was a bumpy start, but Coach Mendoza got his team turned around, and now they're in a nice groove.
The Wildcats have grabbed an 11-point lead here at the break.
[Raul.]
Now the thing that's killing us right now is that we're doing things we're not supposed to do.
We missed lay-ups, we just tried to finger roll.
Don't get greedy and try to force it when it's not there.
The idea is not how many shots we we take, it's how many good shots we take.
That's the difference between an average team, a mediocre team, and a good team.
The team that do the little things, that make the lay-up, make the free throws, make the good passes That's gonna be the difference.
You know, right now, we're up, - but we've got a whole half to go, guys.
- [Cooper.]
Let's go.
Back to the action here at Snowflake High School early in the second half.
It's been all Wildcats.
Cooper Burbank, the crossover pull up The shot is good.
- Wildcats' lead has grown to 18.
- [whistle blows.]
We're up! We can go further, but we've gotta be smart.
Hey, don't beat ourselves.
Let's go.
[commentator.]
Josiah Tsosie trapped, his pass, right to the Lobos, they'll take it the other way and there's the lay-in.
Be patient.
Josiah Tsosie drives, forces up the shot, gets off the mark.
[Raul.]
Josiah! And Snowflake has got the ball again.
[Raul.]
Shoot us out of the game.
Go get him.
He just wants to shoot the ball.
Josiah! Coach Mendoza has decided to give his point guard a rest.
He heads to the bench with eight points but five turnovers.
Come on.
You gotta get your head in the game.
[referee.]
All right! Snowflake jump shot, eight.
Snowflake might have a pulse here.
They score a couple of quick buckets, give their fans some hope.
[Raul.]
We can't let 'em get back in the game.
We have to be disciplined.
Play better defense.
Okay? Lobos on the drive, the dish, Cooper steals the pass.
It's knocked away and it might have gone off Cooper's legs.
And it's Snowflake's basketball.
- Cooper! - [whistle blows.]
- He's just not there.
- Yeah.
Stay in the game! Don't Don't space out! - Hey, focus on what you're doing.
- [buzzer sounds.]
[commentator.]
The Wildcats' lead is dwindling.
The Lobos are not gonna go away quietly.
They keep hanging around out there.
[Raul.]
Listen, keep playing! Don't give up! You gotta want it more than they do! [cheering.]
[commentator.]
And the game is tied, 69-69.
Unbelievable.
The Snowflake Lobos have battled all the way back from 18 down to knotted up.
The Wildcats need somebody, anybody to step up on offense.
- [Raul.]
Time out.
- [whistle blows.]
Now, listen.
This is what we're doing.
Cooper, you're right here.
You're gonna act ike you're gonna set the pick, and just go, okay? And then Josiah, you're here.
Okay? One of you guys are gonna get it.
So, with the game on the line, it looks like Josiah Tsosie is coming back in.
[all.]
One, two, three, WIldcats! Snowflake with pressure defense, Chance Harvey brings it up the left side and up from there.
Back to the top, Josiah Tsosie has it.
And a pass nearly stolen by the Lobos.
But Burbank picks it up, saves it for the Wildcats.
Sixty-nine, sixty-nine.
Dewayne Tom on the right angle.
Nothing there for him.
Passes it up, swing it around left side.
Seconds to play.
Cooper Burbank from the corner, a three up and good! [Raul.]
Yeah! The Wildcats have made the shot, and Chinle is gonna come away with a victory at Snowflake, 72 to 69, to begin their brand-new season.
[Raul.]
Okay, we've gotta look at this tonight as something to learn from.
Good to win, but again, look at how we played.
All those mental mistakes We can't have it.
We could have beat them by 15 or more, easily.
But we seem like we When we got ahead, some of you guys relaxed.
You can't do that.
You gotta keep playing through the whole thing.
Otherwise, you know, it was a win but this is something you In order to beat a tough team, you've gotta be mentally tough too.
I thought mentally, we lost in the second half.
We weren't there mentally, and that was the biggest thing.
That's just something you've gotta learn.
Look at yourself in the mirror and say, "What did I do that I need to correct?" All of us can go down and say, "What did I do that I need to correct?" And that's how you become better as individuals.
And as a team, we're gonna get better as we go.
Okay? Break.
Go.
- [Cooper.]
Wildcats on three.
- One, two, three.
Wildcats! Put your jerseys in one area so we can pick them up.
[Raul.]
As a head coach, I've seen kids that are very talented, very good players, but didn't even get a chance to go to state playoffs.
[player.]
My man, 27 points, Coop! [player 2.]
Damn, Coop.
[Raul.]
Good shot, Coop.
I always try to get the kids to understand that getting into the playoffs is a special thing.
A lot of it is the mental thing.
Everything has to fall in place to win the state championship.
You know, this team that we have, we have a group of seniors.
We're gonna lose 'em next year.
You know, our guys have to learn to realize the urgency, I guess you could say.
We have the capability of winning the whole thing.
Why not go for it now? It's your time to accomplish the impossible, which is something that we've never done here in Chinle, win a state championship.
So I'm hoping that the kids are starting to begin to understand that this this is it.
This is the time to do it.
This is the year.
[man singing in Navajo.]