Oree Foster
Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Girls, boys hoops: Winslow, Window Rock chalk up victories

December 20, 2019 by Oree Foster, AZPreps365


GIRL'S

WINSLOW 63, CHINLE 49

Kristin Wagner, Kylie Begay and Anrea Willeto combined for 45 points to pace the Winslow Lady Bulldogs to a 63-49 victory over the Chinle Lady Wildcats in a freedom game in 3A girl's basketball action in Don Petranovich Gymnasium in Winslow on Thursday night.

The Lady Bulldogs spoiled Chinle head coach Francine McCurtain's Winslow homecoming. McCurtain played for four years at Winslow for coaching legend Don Petranovich. McCurtain was First Team All-State, First Team All-Arizona, Navajo Times Player of the Year and All-American at Winslow. McCurtain was a member of Winslow's State Championship team.

McCurtain was a standout for the Winslow, graduating in 2001, before she signed a NCAA Division I National Letter of Intent to play PAC -12 Conference women's basketball for Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.

Wagner knocked down 17 points, followed by Begay with 15 points and Willeto tallied 13 points in a winning effort for Winslow.

"Tonight was an all-around great team defensive effort by my team against a good Chinle team," said Winslow head coach Jerron Jordan. "My team used a good defense to create transition offense."

Winslow led by one point, 18-17, at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Bulldogs extended its lead, 28-24, at the end of the first half, after outscoring the Lady Wildcats, 10-7, in the second quarter.

Winslow continued to shoot well in the third stanza, tallying 15 points to Chinle's six points. The Lady Bulldogs held a 43-30 advantage. The tempo of the game stepped up in the fourth quarter. Winslow outscored Chinle, 20-19.

Topping Chinle offensively was sophomore Aisha Ashley with 15 points and senior Tea Murray with 12 points.

Winslow, 6-3, will be at Ganado, 9-1, on December 23 in the Hornet Pavilion at 6 p.m.

Chinle, 5-3, hosts Paradise Honors, 4-3, on December 21 at 3 p.m. in the Wildcat Den.

BOYS

WINSLOW 66, CHINLE 48

The Winslow Bulldogs turned in a strong first quarter, en route to a 66-48 victory over the Chinle Wildcats in a freedom boy's basketball game in Winslow on Thursday night.

Winslow gunned in 22 points, while Chinle managed six points in the first quarter. The Wildcats outscored the Bulldogs, 14-13, in the second quarter. Winslow took a 35-20 lead at halftime.

Winslow and Chinle both scored 13 points apiece during the third period. The Bulldogs held a 48-33 lead at the end of the third quarter. Winslow outscored Chinle, 19-15, during the final stanza.

"We did a poor job defensively that Winslow ran away with the game in the first half," said Chinle head coach Raul Mendoza. "We made a run in the third quarter. We cut the lead to 10 points. That is the closest we could get."

Tyrell Young tallied 19 points for Winslow. Roy Billups added 16 pointd, followed by Dustin Richards and Zachary Wagner with 13 points apiece.

Cooper Burbank and Malik Bahe both poured in 11 points apiece for Chinle.

Winslow, 11-4, will be at Ganado, 2-6, on December 23 in the Hornet Pavilion at 7:30 p.m.

Chinle, 5-3, entertains Paradise Honors, 4-3, on December 21 at 4:30 p.m. in the Wildcat Den.

GIRLS

WINDOW ROCK 67, HOPI 44

Senior Jana Solee knocked down 23 points to help lead Window Rock Lady Scouts to a 67-44 freedom girl's basketball game over the Hopi Lady Bruins on Thursday night.

"We played good defense throughout the game," said Window Rock head coach Sharon Toadecheenie. "Everybody played with high intensity. We have much more to improve our game as we go."

Window Rock jumped out to an 18-11 first quarter advantage. The Lady Scouts extended its lead to 37-17 at halftime, after outscoring the Lady Bruins, 19-6.

Hopi battled back in the third period, netting 17 points to Window Rock's 15 points. The Lady Scouts took a 52-34 lead, Window Rock canned 15 points to Hopi's 10 points in the fourth period.

Ashleigh Bia canned nine points and Alexis Hood added eight points for Window Rock.

Taylor Antonio netted 13 points and Onaiwa Begay added seven points.

Window Rock, 8-2, travels to Holbrook, 5-3, today at 6 p.m.

Hopi, 1-5, will be at Greyhills on January 7, 2020.

BOYS

WINDOW ROCK 45, HOPI 24

Window Rock Scouts stopped Hopi Bruins, 45-24, in a freedom boy's basketball game on Thursday night.

The Scouts held a 14-3 first quarter lead. Window Rock outscored the Bruins, 11-9, for a 25-12 halftime lead.

Window Rock tallied 10 points and Hopi managed five points in the third period. The Scouts took a 35-17 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Scouts netted 10 points and Bruins canned seven points during the final frame.

Adrian Destea poured in 12 points, followed by Trajon Bizardi with 11 points and Cauy Silversmith added 10 points for Window Rock.

"We are still building the foundation of our defense," said Window Rock head coach Tom Bizardi. "Hopi has nice pass and cut offense that had us make adjustments of diverting the cutters. We were weak in that area so it gave us a chance to make some corrections to our defense."

Bizardi added, "Our offense is developing slowly and the holiday break will give us some time to polish it up."

Window Rock, 9-3, will be on the road at Holbrook, 8-4, today at 7:30 p.m.

Hopi, 1-6, will be at Greyhills on January 7.