[New post] Naomi Navarro navigates Pioneer High School girls basketball team to unbeaten start | Athlete of the Week
Shaun Holkko posted: "Transitioning from one sports season to another can be difficult for some, but Pioneer High School sophomore Naomi Navarro made it look seamless this past week. Navarro suited up for the inaugural flag football team in the fall then returned to the cou" Daily Democrat
Transitioning from one sports season to another can be difficult for some, but Pioneer High School sophomore Naomi Navarro made it look seamless this past week.
Navarro suited up for the inaugural flag football team in the fall then returned to the courts for basketball season late last month. The superb sophomore is averaging 14.3 points per game during three victories to begin the 2023-24 regular season.
"She's come out on fire," girls basketball coach Sean Goldston proclaimed Monday morning. "Her shot has been on, her attitude has been great and her hustle has been phenomenal. Her offense is really shining but I love the way that she has been playing defense. Her and Keziah playing that one-two punch up front on the defensive end for us in the first two games has been huge. They play off of each other so well, they're a great compliment to each other."
Navarro's 18-point performance, including 11 in the first quarter, against Wood technically didn't count in the record books since it occurred during a Foundation Game. However, with small sample sizes early in the winter seasons, we're going to count the production for the sake of argument.
"To be honest, I didn't really expect that because my warm-up was really bad," Navarro said on Nov. 15. "I'm glad I did good and it really helped our team. It feels good to have a good game like this."
The Patriots (2-0) hit the road for back-to-back games to start the new campaign. Pioneer went to Vacaville on Friday and beat Rodriguez 50-34. Navarro scored another game-high with 16 points on 6-of-9 field goal attempts, 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 2-of-4 from the free-throw line with 9 steals.
"I know she's been working a lot on her shot, trying to get it dialed in from her floater to 3-point shooting," Goldston explained. "She's really worked hard on it in the offseason and is continuing to work on it. She goes out and shoots a couple hundred balls every Sunday. (I appreciate) her willingness to be coached, listen and do anything the team needs."
Navarro cooled down a bit Monday night in Elk Grove during a 44-35 win at Laguna Creek. She scored 9 points on 4-of-11 shots with 3 steals, 2 rebounds and a block. That's what teammates are for though and the Patriots were led to victory by two forwards with double-doubles.
Senior Olivia Gill and junior Peyton Thorpe led all scorers with 12 points each. Gill added 16 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 blocks. Thorpe contributed 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Junior point guard Keziah Maldonado-Lemus dished out a game-high 10 assists.
Pioneer sophomore guard Naomi Navarro shoots a 3-pointer during a 43-32 win against Wood in the Foundation Game on Nov. 15 in Woodland. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Pioneer sophomore safety Naomi Navarro grabs a flag during an 18-6 win at Dixon on Oct. 4 at Finney Field. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Pioneer guard Naomi Navarro shoots a 3-pointer as a freshman during a 51-49 win at Casa Roble on Jan. 27 in Orangevale. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Pioneer sophomore safety Naomi Navarro returns an interception during a 20-12 win at Mesa Verde on Sept. 5 at McArthur Field in Citrus Heights. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Pioneer guard Naomi Navarro pump fakes before scoring a first quarter buzzer beater as a freshman during a 51-49 win at Casa Roble on Jan. 27 in Orangevale. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Flag football being introduced as a girls high school sport was exciting for Navarro in particular as someone who has played the game from a young age. She shined on the field, leading Pioneer to a 13-4 overall record and a postseason appearance.
"She played this game when she was little. When the CIF brought girls flag football to the high schools, it sparked a flame for her to want to be great. Not just for herself but for this team," said flag football assistant coach Gabriel Morales. "Her mentality, playing both sides of the ball, that's what really brought the morale up of this team to have her be a part of it. She's such a great playmaker and leader."
Navarro played both sides of the ball as a wide receiver on offense and a ball-hawking safety on defense. According to MaxPreps, she ranked among the nation's best in interceptions with 17, which tied for 12th in the country.
"Her nose for the football, watching the quarterback's eyes and passes get thrown, it's sometimes hard for younger athletes to learn the flight of a ball and to judge where it's going to land. I think it really helped her, being a basketball player, being able to do that in football and learning it on a bigger field really helps her in basketball," Goldston explained. "That judgment of where it's going to go, where that person you're defending is going to be. In turn on offense, you can tell when a girl playing defense on you turns her back to you and when to make that backdoor cut."
Navarro and the Patriots girls varsity basketball team will enjoy a week off for Thanksgiving before their next game. Pioneer will host its home opener on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Granite Bay.
"She's just a great young lady. She'd go above and beyond for anybody, anytime," Goldston said. "She gets along with everyone and always has a smile. That goes a long ways to being on the basketball floor because she is so easy to get along with and is loved by all of her teammates."
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