The Canyon Lady Eagle basketball team remains undefeated after winning the annual AMA TechTel Tournament of Champions. Coach Joe Lombard also achieved 1000 wins with the Lady Eagles, moving to 10-0 on the season after another win against Stratford last Tuesday. The team will start district play on the road Tuesday, Dec. 12 at Hereford.

“We want to continually improve as we go through this first part of our season,” Lombard said. “This tournament gave us the opportunity to play three games in 24 hours. I thought our kids handled it very well, and we were able to play every player each game so every player got some game experience against quality opposition.” 

Lombard said he is very excited about the versatility and the depth of his 11 player squad this year.

“Depending on each game, each person has been making huge contributions and getting some quality minutes,” Lombard said. “We can get scoring from different players in different positions, and we can switch on things on defense when we need to. Our five seniors on the floor together create a really good defensive unit, but I also feel like we have really good offensive talent off the bench, so hopefully we have a good mix of what it takes to win a title.” 

The Lady Eagles faced Bushland in the championship game of the tournament, and the victory gave Lombard 1000 wins with the Lady Eagles.

“It’s a great honor, and the emotions I had afterwards were all toward others,” Lombard said. “I think of all the people who have had a major impact on me after 33 years of coaching at Canyon–all kinds of administrators, teachers, coaches, community people, parents and most importantly, the players are huge in all of the success we’ve had. It wasn’t a goal or something I was trying to achieve. It was a great honor, but it was just another game.”

Returning senior guard Madi Rolan earned all-tournament honors at the AMA TechTel tournament, and she said this tournament meant a lot to her and her teammates.

“This was our first tournament to win this year, and it was also Coach Lombard’s 1000 win at Canyon, so to be a part of that was something amazing,” Rolan said. “I think as a result of winning this tournament, our team has gained confidence as well as learned about some of the weaknesses we need to work on. Doing so will get us to where we need to be.”

Returning starter senior forward Channing Cunyus was named MVP of the AMA TechTel tournament. She averaged 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals throughout their three games.

“Winning the tournament was very good for us, because we want to keep improving throughout our pre-district season,” Cunyus said. “I think we can definitely improve on minor things like passing and defense, and I also think we are very team oriented. Almost every player every game is scoring so we have a lot of confidence in each other, and it’s not just about one player doing all the work.”

Lombard said with the beginning of district, the team needs to be on its game.

“We want to peak in February or March, but we have to keep getting better because our district is so strong,” Lombard said. “Our goal is to shoot about 50 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line. We’re making that goal some games, and we’re close in others. Our goal on turnovers for each game is 10, and we’re averaging about 13 right now so we can definitely tighten things up before district play.”