Nelson Allen is an NAU School of Communication student assigned to cover Tuba City basketball for AZPreps365.com  WINSLOW – Tuba City defeated the Pima Roughriders 73-51 in Winslow on Feb. 21, punching their ticket for a shot at the Copper State Championship in Phoenix. The Warriors will face Snowflake for the championship at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 28. Members of the Tuba City community came out in full force for the semifinal matchup, waiting all day outside the gym to get seats as cars lined up around Winslow High School. “They are pretty much our sixth man on the team, you know, the crowd,” Warriors coach Pete Butler said. The Warriors took control of the game in the first half with a 17-point lead and held on to that lead the entire game, winning by 22 points. This was not just a game for the Warriors; it is a shot to end a 24-year state championship drought. Their last state title came in 2001, beating Winslow 62-44.  For senior guard Raquel Lee and freshman guard Layla Curtis, this opportunity to play in Phoenix for the Copper State Championship is a dream come true. “We put a lot of work in with us girls, having to run and having to be dedicated and being together,” Lee said. “It means a lot to us, it’s been 24 years since we’ve been this close to something again, it means a lot to us and we’re very excited.” Lee is one of four seniors who will graduate this year, leaving her mark on a great season. She looks forward to play with her teammates one last time in the championship game. Curtis, who was awarded Region Player of the Year, expressed her excitement being a freshman student and making it to the Copper State finals. “I’m so excited, especially being a freshman and having this fan support it’s so much excitement,” Curtis said. Curits scored 28 points, made nine free throws, had seven assists and eight steals in the semifinal game. Butler praised Curtis for her hard work, determination, athleticism and leadership on and off the court. “It’s a dream come true to have a player like her, she so developed as a player, and you know she’s got a bright future ahead of her, she’s going to do well. She’s carried this team all year long as a freshman, I knew that was gonna happen,” Butler said. “I kind of knew she was gonna be a leader, but as a freshman to come out and just really dominate the region and just dominate almost every game, is really unheard of.” Butler went on to thank her parents for raising her to be the person and player she is now. To the Warriors is not just a championship game, but a rematch between the two rivals. Back in December, the Lobos beat the Warriors by one point, 61-60, on the Warriors’ home court. “I want to prove to that Tuba City is back, we’re ready to play,” Curtis said. “We lost to Snowflake once; it’s not going to happen again.”