Rezball
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Rezball, short for reservation ball, is the term used to describe the avid Native American following of basketball and in some areas the style of play of their Native American teams.
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[edit] Style of Play
Rezball is transition-based basketball that forces tempo with aggressive play, quick scoring (or at least shooting) and assertive defense that looks to force turnovers through pressing or half-court traps. There are slight variations from program to program. Keys to a good rezball offense are sound fundamentals and being in very good condition.
[edit] Following
The Apache and Navajo tribes in northeastern Arizona and northwesthern New Mexico are home to several high schools. In these areas basketball reigns supreme, and towns come to a standstill during basketball season. In Arizona, 3 of the top six largest crowds at a boys basketball game are rezball games (regardless of school size), with the second highest ever being a game between an Apache powerhouse and a Navajo powerhouse.
1. 16,010 Phoenix Shadow Mountain 81, Tempe Corona del Sol 56 1996 (America West Arena)
2. 16,010 Tuba City 66, Whiteriver Alchesay 60 2000 (America West Arena)
3. 15,379 Phoenix Shadow Mountain 79, Centrallia, Illinois 76 1995 (Kiel Center / St. Louis)
4. 14,270 Tuba City 69, Coolidge 57 2001 (America West Arena)
5. 14,219 Tuba City 65, Winslow 62 2001 (America West Arena)
6. 14,123 Tempe McClintock 71, Phoenix Brophy Prep 67 1986 (Arizona State University)[1]
Also the top three largest crowds for a girl's game were reservation teams.
16,010 Winslow 40, Monument Valley 39 2000 (America West Arena / Semifinals)
10,588 Window Rock 53, Winslow 47 1992 (Walkup Skydome)
10,000 Winslow 76, Monument Valley 69 2004 (America West Arena)[2]
[edit] NABI
Every year the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community host the Native American Basketball Invitational, an all native tournament sponsored by the Phoenix Suns and Nike. In its third year, it has become recognized as the premier all-native tournament in North America. It hosts 60+ teams from all over the U.S. and Canada, and is instrumental in showcasing the talent of Native American teams to college recruiters, most of whom would not travel to the remote reservation towns to watch them play. [3]
[edit] Modern Reservation Teams
East Fork High School, Whiteriver, Arizona
Magdalena High School, Magdalena, New Mexico
Tsé Yí Gai High School, Smith Lake, New Mexico
Cibecue High School, Cibecue, Arizona
Shonto Preparatory, Shonto, Arizona
Jemez Valley High School, Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico
St. Michael High School, St. Michaels, Arizona
Pine Hill High School, Pinehill, New Mexico
Ft. Thomas High School, Fort Thomas, Arizona
Pima High School, Pima, Arizona
Salt River High School, Scottsdale, Arizona
Navajo Pine High School, Navajo, New Mexico
Dulce High School, Dulce, New Mexico
Ramah High School, Ramah, New Mexico
Rough Rock High School, Rough Rock, Arizona
Baboquivari High School, Sells, Arizona
Newcomb High School, Newcomb, New Mexico
Red Mesa High School, Teec Nos Pos, Arizona
San Carlos High School, San Carlos, Arizona
Piñon High School, Piñon, Arizona
Valley High School, Sanders, Arizona
Cuba High School, Cuba, New Mexico
Crownpoint High School, Crownpoint, New Mexico
Zuni High School, Zuni, New Mexico
Rehoboth High School, Rehoboth, New Mexico
Many Farms High School, Many Farms, Arizona
Tohatchi High School, Tohatchi, New Mexico
Greyhills Academy, Tuba City, Arizona
Hopi High School, Keams Canyon, Arizona
Parker High School, Parker, Arizona
Thoreau High School, Thoreau, New Mexico
Alchesay High School, Whiteriver, Arizona
Ganado High School, Ganado, Arizona
Holbrook High School, Holbrook, Arizona
Winslow High School, Winslow, Arizona
Window Rock High School, Ft. Defiance, Arizona
Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, New Mexico
River Valley High School, Mojave Valley, Arizona
Tuba City High School, Tuba City, Arizona
Bernalillo High School, Bernalillo, New Mexico
Monument Valley High School, Monument Valley, Arizona
Shiprock High School, Shiprock, New Mexico
Central High School, Kirtland, New Mexico
Chinle High School, Chinle, Arizona
Page High School, Page, Arizona
Coconino High School, Flagstaff, Arizona
Gallup High School, Gallup, New Mexico
Farmington High School, Farmington, New Mexico
[edit] Miscellaneous
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Jerry Stackhouse saw rezball when he was a senior in high school and he said he had never seen basketball played the way they played it, and that it was by far the quickest, most entertaining style he had ever seen.
