Tragedy draws two schools together

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Peshlakai sisters didn't play for Santa Fe Indian School, but the Lady Braves basketball team Thursday found a way to honor the memory of the young women hit and killed by a suspected drunken driver after a game last week.

Last Friday Deshauna and Del Lynn Peshlakai and their parents were returning home to Naschitti from a state basketball championship game in Santa Fe when their car was struck from behind. The girls were in the back seat and died from their injuries while their parents, riding in the front seat, were hospitalized.

The driver of the truck was charged with vehicular homicide, and police have said a blood test showed him to be intoxicated at the time of the crash.

On Thursday the girls' spirits lived on in the game they loved.

"You can't even put it into words," Lady Braves coach Cindy Roybal said. "It's so devastating."

The SFIX girl's basketball team found another way to express their sorrow and honor the Peshlakai sisters.

Although the Peshlakai sisters played for Newcomb High School the Lady Braves dedicated their Thursday game in the state tournament game to the memory of the sisters.

"It could've very easily been one of mine," Roybal said.

The Lady Braves walked onto court at the Pit in Albuquerque wearing T-shirts their coach designed featuring Deshauna and Del Lynn's pictures.

"To me personally, it's just a small token that I can do to help the family get through this," Roybal said. "Like I said, it touches all of us."

The game had fans cheering, but it was also a reminder of the young lives lost.

Aunna Bradley/fan attending game

"You know, they were down, they were just going to refuse to lose that game," spectator Aunna Bradley said. "I think that's tremendous."

Though roughly 200 miles apart, the Santa Fe and Newcomb schools were brought together by tragedy.

One of the Peshlakai brothers cheered on the Santa Fe girls in a recent game and told Roybal his sisters would be honored by the tribute.

He said they'd also want the team to win.

"On one of those time outs we just said you know, we're playing for the Peshlakai sisters we're doing it for them, they're watching over us," Jenine Coríz of the Lady Braves said.

The Lady Braves won Thursday's game against Lovington 62-59.