Section 7 is known as one of the premier basketball events for high schoolers competing in front of college scouts, and now that opportunity has opened for Native American teams.

Monument Valley beat Window Rock 48-39 Tuesday at Arizona Athletic Grounds in the Section 7 Native American qualifier, which will grant the top two teams a spot in the Section 7 weekend. The event features top teams from 11 states, including Arizona, California and Utah, showcasing elite high school basketball talent for numerous college scouts.

It's an opportunity that reservation schools do not usually receive.

“We just want to lead by example, just like our alumni did,” Monument Valley head coach Landis Nelson said. “We want to set a good legacy and get used to this environment and be competitive.”

Monument Valley won its three 3A state championships during the 90s (1993, 1996, 1997), a run that Nelson hopes to emulate. 

Monument Valley is located more than 300 miles from Mesa, but Nelson believes the crucial thing for this group is simply to compete. 

“This is the environment that we look forward to,” Nelson said. “We get some exposure by being in this competitive environment, for our kids.”

Guards Blake Bennett, who scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, and Mekhi Parrish (14 points) led the way for the Mustangs. After a break Tuesday, their team was back on the court playing another Rez team, New Mexico Santa Fe Indian, which won 73-48.

“It means a lot, especially being Native American,” said Bennett about being one of the first Rez teams to play in Section 7. “We came here to compete, this is where we wanted to be … we just want to compete here.”

In its first game, Monument Valley pulled ahead early before Window Rock fought back to tie it at 25-25 at halftime. 

Coming out of the half, Monument Valley jumped out to a 10-point lead by getting to the rim and attacking the offensive glass. Nelson praised the consistency of his group during the game, something he's been building during the offseason. 

But Window Rock then responded with an 8-0 run that cut Monument Valley’s lead to 41-39. 

But in the remaining 2:28, Monument Valley shut out Window Rock, with Parrish sealing the victory at the free throw line for a 48-39 win.

Parrish averaged 12.8 points per game in four games as a junior last season along with 3.5 steals and 3.5 assists. He's aiming to lead the Mustangs offensively next season but also mentioned an emphasis on his defensive development this summer. 

Regardless of where they finish, Monument Valley and Window Rock will gain valuable experience in Mesa while proudly representing their communities.

Up next for Monument Valley was a noon Wednesday game against Yakama Nation of Washington.