By Don Ketchum

Three points? That was all Page High’s girls scored in the first quarter of their Division III semifinal on Friday night (Feb. 24)?

Normally, the Sand Devils score more in their sleep.

With his team trailing 8-3 entering the second quarter, Page coach Justin Smith said, “I almost threw up (in disgust). We were getting good shots. Maybe we were a little too amped.’’

He looked into the eyes of his players.

“I know my players, and they had the look that they weren’t going to lose,’’ he said.

Top-seeded Page didn’t. The Sand Devils picked up the pace the rest of the way and went on to post a 60-45 victory over 13^th-seeded Camp Verde at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.

Page (30-2) will meet a familiar rival, seventh-seeded Winslow, for the championship tonight at 8 at Jobing.com. The two split two regular-season games, Page winning the first and Winslow the second.

Guard Erin West provided the spark for the Sand Devils against Camp Verde (27-8) by scoring 19 of her 21 points in the second half, including four 3-pointers.

Three other Page players scored in double figures – Adjabah James and Malarie Williams (12 each) and Amber Tso (10).

“To be honest, I don’t think we played as good as we can,’’ Smith said.

Amanda Showers led Camp Verde with 17 points and Lila Hickey scored 10.

Smith said he would take about an hour break and then start looking at film of Winslow.

“It’s not like we don’t have any of them and they don’t have any of us,’’ he said. “Their girls play hard all the time, and we’re going to have to be ready.’’