HOLBROOK — The three-time defending 3A East champion Roadrunners are in the mix once again for a region title, and hopefully a much-longer stay in the state tournament this go-round.

And if Holbrook is going to make any noise in the playoffs come February, a well-known name within the community will have to step up his game even more than he already has.

Synonymous with Holbrook basketball, the Tapaha bloodline began their journey as go-to performers within the program in the early 1990s with brothers Johnny and Johnson Tapaha.

More recently, Brandon Tapaha, Johnny’s son, was a second-team All-State performer who led the Roadrunners in back-to-back 25-win campaigns in 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. Holbrook made the 3A state Final Four in 2022, losing to Coolidge 67-57, then made an Elite 8 appearance in 2023 before losing to Yuma Catholic, 49-46.

Brandon Tapaha scored 1,001 points during his career as a mainstay in the lineup all four years as one of the best players to bounce a basketball in Holbrook history, but he isn’t the last of the Tapaha’s to wear the red and blue.

Enter Brandon’s younger brother Tyler, who when it’s all said and done, may be the best of the bunch.

Earning first team All-State honors his junior year, not to mention 3A East Region Player of the Year in 2023-24, Tyler Tapaha has netted 1,314 points in his career through Jan. 17, a 20-point performance in a 59-57 loss to rival Winslow.

It was only the second loss in 12 games for Holbrook, which has turned it on lately and is eying a serious run for a repeat 3A East title, and lengthy playoff run.

Tyler Tapaha (42) works his way down the court during the Winslow game Jan. 17, 2024, in Holbrook. Tapaha has scored more than 1,400 points in his career and may be the best in a long line of Tapaha family members who played for the Roadrunners. (Kellie Spangler, Spanglerpics/Courtesy)Averaging 17.4 points per game this season, the 18-year-old senior said playing basketball is just what “Tapaha’s do.”

“I followed in my brothers’ footsteps. I played all the time. I was always around my dad, my brothers, we played in the gym all the time,” Tapaha said, adding that it’s a great “feeling” to win for his community in Holbrook.

The oldest brother, Jalen, who graduated in 2017, played basketball for Holbrook during his junior year but had to sit out due to transfer rules. He transferred back to Winslow for his senior season. Even Tyler's cousin, Deya Guerrero is getting into the mix, averaging just shy of 10 points a game for the Holbrook girls basketball team this year.

“It’s an important, family tradition for us to play basketball,” Tapaha said. “My older brother, then me. It’s a family thing; you play your heart out and try to keep it going.”

The family name will live on within the Holbrook gymnasium walls at least a few more years as Tyler’s younger brother Tristan is an up-and-coming prospect that fans will have to watch out for.

“He’s going to be good,” Tyler Tapaha said.

But for now, Tapaha is trying to finish his career strong and hoist a state championship trophy, something that has only been done twice in Holbrook history, the first in 1971 and more recently, 2011.

“[It’s a] goal of ours, coach always said a state championship. We need to finish the season strong and try to win the 3A East for the fourth time in a row,” Tapaha said.

Holbrook head coach Delmar Johnson, entering his 11th year on the job, said it’s been great watching Tyler grow up before his eyes since freshman year.

“I knew he was going to be a pretty good player, but not a great player. When you first look at Tyler, you don’t think he’s a basketball player. But he can do everything a point guard player can do. He’s a natural,” Johnson said. “He’s only about 6-foot, he doesn’t have typical basketball body. He’s just a basketball player; he loves to play basketball. It’s just a joy to watch the things he can do on the court. The way he takes a charge, rebounds, he’s not going to out jump anybody. It’s a pleasure to watch him grow.”

The 3A East Coach of the Year in 2022-23 said Tyler’s older brother Brandon was more of “facilitator” then a scorer, but likened his skillset once again to “knowing how to play the game.”

“Their dad was more of a shooter, a scorer,” Johnson said about Johnny Tapaha.

From left to right: Jalen Tapaha, Johnny Tapaha, Tyler Tapaha and Tristen Tapaha pose for a photo after a basketball game in Holbrook. (Tapaha Family/Courtesy)Johnson, who is originally from east Chicago, found his way to Holbrook to play his college basketball at Pioneer Community College and fell in love with the area.

“It was culture shock. Where am I? It was great for us. We had a coach who understand how we were going to respond, coming from the inner-city and all. It’s what you make out of it. It was the best two years I had, playing college basketball,” Johnson said, adding that having families like the Tapaha group be a mainstay in town is why Holbrook is so special.

That community isn’t just basketball, however, with deep ties to ranching, and Tyler said the Tapaha family is no different, adding that he draws his connection to the community not just from basketball, but from working on the ranch with his family.

“I like to ride horses, round up cows,” Tapaha said.

The family keeps their livestock on their nearby grandmother’s ranch.

Of course, like most Americans, the hit show “Yellowstone” is one of his favorites, stating that he didn’t like the ending.

“It was kinda booty, I wasn’t expecting that,” Tapaha said with a laugh.

The Tapaha family works together on the ranch, something they've done for years in Holbrook beyond being basketball stars for the Roadrunners. (Tapaha Family/Courtesy)

“We brand them, air tag them. It’s a good day out there with my family,” Tapaha said, adding that ranching is way to “center” himself.

“You’re free, you can have peace and quiet,” Tapaha said about being out there all alone, with miles of land surrounding him and the wind blowing against the desert grass. “It takes my mind of basketball, and it helps me recenter myself for school and basketball.”

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.