Oree Foster
Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Basketball preview: Athleticism, speed are keys to a successful season for 3A East Region power Winslow

November 19, 2019 by Oree Foster, AZPreps365


Athleticism and speed are keys to a successful hoops season for 3A East Region power Winslow Bulldogs.

WINSLOW LADY BULLDOGS

Veteran Winslow Lady Bulldogs head coach Jerron Jordan welcomed six returning players, including three starters from last year's 3A state tournament Final Four squad.

"My team made it to the (state tournament) Final Four last year," Jordan said. "(We) lost to eventual State Champion Page High School (for the State Championship)."

Jordan has coached at Winslow for 18 years, including nine seasons as head coach. Jordan served as Hall of Fame coaching legend Don Petranovich's chief assistant coach for nine years, before Petranovich retired.

Lady Bulldogs returnees, who earned post season honors are All-Region and All-State sophomore guard Kylie Begay; All-Region senior guard Brianna Little; and All-Region senior post Andrea Willeto.

Joining the three include senior post Aliyahna Vogele; junior post Sierra Singer; and junior guard Kristin Wagner.

"My team's strength is our speed and athleticism," Jordan said. "My team is half returning players and half new players to the team. The team will continue to work hard every day in practice and on our team chemistry."

Jordan guided Winslow to a 23-6 record and the Lady Bulldogs completed the 3A East Region with a 9-1 mark.

"My team's goal is to win the state championship," Jordan said. "We have a very tough strength of schedule. For example, my team's first game is against defending 4A Grand Canyon Region champion Flagstaff High School. Then my team plays defending 3A State Champion Page High School. Both games are on the road."

Winslow travels to Phoenix to face Alhambra High School, Sierra Linda High School and Desert Vista High School on Friday for a scrimmage game. Scrimmage game begins at 5 p.m.

WINSLOW BULLDOGS

Winslow head basketball coach Scott Corum begins his fifth year as the Bulldogs' skipper. Corum has been a coach of various sports at Winslow for 21 years.

During his previous four years, Corum has won 20-plus games. Corum has never had a losing season. Corum has compiled 102 victories. Corum won the 3A State Championship in 2018.

Winslow completed the season with a 23-5 record and the Bulldogs nailed down the 3A East Region championship at 9-1.

The Bulldogs return five players, including three starters from last year's team that advanced to the state tournament Elite Eight.

Returning starters include senior post Zach Wagner; junior guard Tyrell Young; and junior post Dustin Richard. Wagner was selected First Team 3A East All-Region. Young and Richard were both named to Second Team 3A East All-Region.

Joining the three are returnees, junior guard Zane Corum and senior guard Josiah Montgomery.

Corum said the Bulldogs' strength is speed and depth.

"We need to work on team chemistry, fundamentals and some new defensive schemes," Corum said.

Corum said the team's goals and expectations is to play four quarters of basketball.

"Our goal is to play hard and give ourselves the best chance of winning each game," Corum said. "We will need to be disciplined on and off the court, make good decisions on and off the court and support one another."

Winslow travels to Phoenix to face Raymond Kellis High School and Copper Canyon High School in a three-way scrimmage game at 5 p.m. today.