The Pima Community College women’s basketball program takes the time to honor the Native Americans on their roster in addition to celebrating traditions and customs of people indigenous to our land annually at this time of year.
Regarding sporting events honoring people locally, the event at Pima’s West Gym is one of the most meaningful locally.
The event is such a spectacle, Pima’s players and entire coaching staff stay on the bench and watch performances at halftime rather than go to the locker room.
“For me, it is an opportunity to share,” Pima coach Todd Holthaus after the Aztecs defeated Park University-Gilbert 72-41 on Saturday night as part of the In Honor of Indigenous Peoples Game at the Aztec West Gym.
“As we’ve shared throughout the years, it’s growing into something. I think we’re still at the infancy stages (this was the fourth annual event). We’ve made new connections with different people. We’re already talking about wanting to do things next year. That part of it is exciting because I just want to keep it going.”
It had a lot of meaning waiting to interview @PimaWBB @AztecCoachTodd and observing him and his staff interact with parents of his players and their family members, local high school players, Pima staff members, and supporters after tonight’s 72-41 win over Park… pic.twitter.com/f1vLMreUUa
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 15, 2024
Holthaus, with the help of recruiting coordinator and assistant coach Pete Fajardo, has multiple Native Americans on the roster who are talented annually.
This season, the list includes Melicia Nelson (Navajo and Mescalero Apache tribes) of Window Rock, Ahdiayh Chee (Navajo, Sioux and Lakota tribes) of Queen Creek, Noheah Aberle (Navajo) of Holbrook, Sofia Cambridge (Navajo and Ute) of Page and Keira Beall-Gleason (Navajo and Sicangu Lakota) of Kirtland, N.M.
“I love this day because I am so proud of what our Native Americans do,” Holthaus said. “What they go on to do is more important than what they do out here (on the court). I’m just proud that I’m part of that.
“It’s not because of me but I just enjoy being part of the process.”
Some of the former Native American standouts in Holthaus’ program include JJ Nakai (the program’s career leading scorer who went on to play at NAU), Matehya Aberle (Noheah’s older sister) who is now a senior at Westminster College (NCAA Division II program at Salt Lake City) and Tayla Nez (attending NAU’s Master’s in Athletic Training Program after playing at Fort Lewis College).
Former @PimaWBB player Tayla Nez (Navajo) honored as the guest of honor at the In Honor of Indigenous Peoples Game. Now a student at NAU involved with the Master’s in Athletic Training Program. pic.twitter.com/sI3tYrviFx
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 15, 2024
Nez, member of Pima’s region championship teams in 2019-20 and 2020-21, was the guest of honor for Saturday’s event. At halftime, she was presented with a large bouquet of roses.
“This place does hold a special place in my heart,” Nez told the crowd. “This was a very unique experience and I’m very grateful for the coaching staff and Coach Todd for always giving me the opportunity to be better every single day.”
Nelson, a freshman guard, finished with six points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals in the win over Park.
“Coach wants me at a point where I create for the team,” Nelson said. “I take that job as really important … try to create for the team and get easy layups.”
.@PimaWBB freshman Melicia Nelson of Window Rock is a member of the Navajo and Mescalero Apache tribes. In the In Honor of Indigenous Peoples Game against Park University-Gilbert, won by the Aztecs 72-41, Nelson had six points, eight rebounds and seven assists. pic.twitter.com/RVKu30hhUH
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 15, 2024
Nelson said of the evening appreciating indigenous cultures: “It’s really special. I appreciate the coaches putting this event together, especially with us Natives. It was really thoughtful.”
Chee shows a deft shooting touch from 3-point range. She made two of Pima’s four shots from beyond the arc in the game.
Cambridge had five points, four rebounds and an assist and steal.
Holthaus mentioned about Nelson’s balance of being able to score, rebound and assist: “She’s such a fun kid to coach because she is very humble and very selfless and that’s how she plays.”
Kylee Toehe performs the national anthem before the In Honor of Indigenous Peoples Game between @PimaWBB and Park University-Gilbert at Pima West Gym: pic.twitter.com/w4WyJtotrG
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 15, 2024
.@PimaWBB freshman guard Keira Beall-Gleason is Miss Native American at the school. She hails from Kirtland, N.M. Congratulations to her. pic.twitter.com/OuiJ6vvlfj
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 15, 2024
Hoop Dancer Jorge Gonzales entertains at halftime of the In Honor of Indigenous Peoples Game at Pima West. pic.twitter.com/ry9UhVqyM9
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 15, 2024
Hoop Dancer Jorge Gonzales entertains at halftime of the In Honor of Indigenous Peoples Game at Pima West. pic.twitter.com/ry9UhVqyM9
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 15, 2024
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Holthaus and Fajardo attracted one of the most dominant post players in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) this season — Arizona State transfer Kiley Sours-Miller. She classifies as a freshman because she did not play with the Sun Devils last year although she was part of the program.
Sours-Miller, a former Peoria Centennial standout, is a 6-foot-3 dominating physical presence in the lane who has fundamentals on the block, including an effective shooting release.
Kiley Sours-Miller, with ASU’s program last year, has found a home with @PimaWBB. She had 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, most by using her height advantage (6-foot-3) to post up, in the Aztecs’ 72-41 win over Park University tonight. She leads Pima in scoring (16.4 points per… pic.twitter.com/w2RSSVMVLB
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 15, 2024
She transferred to Pima from Arizona State because she wanted a better situation involving her coaching and teammates.
“Basically, the coaches and the team chemistry — that’s what I was for with my next team because I didn’t find that at ASU,” Sours-Miller said. “I’m happy to be here with the team and the coaches.”
She already is a three-time ACCAC Division II Player of the Week selection this season.
She finished with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field with five rebounds and a blocked shot and steal in the win over Park.
She leads the Aztecs averaging 16.4 points and 8.9 rebounds a game.
Holthaus enjoys coaching Sours-Miller because she goes beyond the numbers. His best player also appears to be the best teammate — an ideal situation for the head coach.
“For a teammate to have someone that size who is able to do all that she can do — that’s something to get used to,” Holthaus said. “What I noticed on the bench when she is not in she is a great teammate in terms of support and cheer for the kids who maybe don’t get to play as much.
“That kind of stuff is infectious because when you see your best player doing that, people follow that.”
Pima will now take a Christmas break and not return to action until Dec. 28 when it hosts the Aztec Holiday Classic at the West Gym.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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