In a classic matchup between two 3A girl's basketball powers, the Winslow Lady Bulldogs outlasted the Chinle Lady Wildcats, 52-47, in a freedom contest played in the spacious Wildcat Den in Chinle this past Friday.

Winslow head coach Jerron Jordan said the Lady Bulldogs came to play.

"All the 3A North Region schools are tough and they are always ready to play," Jordan said. "Tonight we were ready to play. Entering the game, I knew Chinle would be tough. Chinle has a talented team. Chinle is well coached by Francine McCurtain, a former Winslow star player. Coach McCurtain gets her players pumped up and ready to play."

The game was bitter sweet for Chinle head coach McCurtain.

"It was a tough game," McCurtain said. "When I played for Winslow, I learned a lot from legendary head coach Don Petranovich. Playing for Winslow has a special place in my heart. I'm coaching at Chinle, I want to beat them everytime I coach against Winslow. The girls played hard. We learned a lot from this game."

It was a tale of two halves. Chinle won the first half, outscoring Winslow, 24-22. The Lady Bulldogs won the second half and the ball game, canning 30 points, while the Lady Wildcats netted 23 points.

"We tightened our defense in the fourth quarter," Jordan said. "The game was back and forth in the first three quarters. About five minutes remaining in the game, we took a slim lead, but we kept the lead throughout the remainder of the game. The girls stepped up. I credit our defense for winning the game. Offensively, we shot the ball well in the fourth quarter."

McCurtain said the Lady Wildcats did not keep its composure.

"In the fourth quarter, we committed too many turnovers," McCurtain said. "We committed mistakes and they capitalized on it. The mistakes mounted up. We need to take care of the ball."

Winslow and Chinle traded baskets throughout the initial seven minutes of play. Winslow's Sierra Singer canned a basket with 1:03 remaining in the first quarter, lifting the Lady Bulldogs to a 12-11 lead.

Chinle junior post Tia Murray knocked down a pair of free throws with 51.7 seconds for a 13-12 advantage. Lady Wildcats freshman post Aisha Ashley added a basket for a 15-12 lead, as the opening period ended.

Winslow took a 16-15 lead when senior post Justine Butterfield scored from inside the paint, junior Andrea Willeto and Brianna Little both hit one free throw apiece.

Chinle went on a run, scoring nine unanswered points for a 24-16 lead, with 1:45 remaining in the second quarter.

Winslow went on a run of its own. The Lady Bulldogs canned four free throws and a basket by Eushawna Nodestine, cutting Chinle's lead to two points, 24-22, as the second quarter expired.

The third quarter was nip-and-tuck, with neither team taking more than a three-point lead.

With over two minutes remaining in the third stanza, Chinle's Meishyla Begay knocked down back-to-back baskets for a 31-29 lead.

Winslow senior Kelli Mitchell pumped in a pair of baskets and Butterfield added a basket, lifting the Lady Bulldogs to a 35-31 lead with 48 seconds left in the third period.

Meishyla Begay scored the final basket of the third quarter, bringing Chinle of one point, 35-34.

Senior post Stacey Begay netted back-to-back baskets for a 38-37 Chinle lead in the fourth quarter. Winslow went on a 6-0 run for a 43-40 lead with 4:45 left.

The Lady Wildcats were within two points, 47-45, when Murray hit one of two charity tosses with 2:55 left. Winslow's Little pumped in a three-pointer with 1:49 remaining, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 50-45 lead.

Chinle could muster two final points of the game on a pair of free throws by Ashley. Little netted two free throws to seal the game.

Justine Butterfield topped Winslow offensively with 12 points. Freshman Kylie Begay added eight points and Willeto netted seven points for Winslow.

Winslow entertains the Ganado Lady Hornets on Monday in Don Petranovich Gymnasium in Winslow in freedom game.

Meishyla Begay led Chinle with 13 points. Stacey Begay and Ashley both scored eight points for Chinle.

Chinle, 4-3, will be on the road at Ganado to face the Lady Hornets this Wednesday at 6 p.m. in a 3A North Region game in the Hornet Pavilion at Burnside, Arizona.