Oree Foster
Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Girls, boys hoops: Holbrook girls, Winslow girls win championship; Chinle boys does well

December 30, 2018 by Oree Foster, AZPreps365


Northern Arizona schools, Holbrook Lady Roadrunners and Winslow Lady Bulldogs emerged as tournament champions of the 2018 Chandler Prep Girl's Basketball New Year's Classic, hosted by Chandler Prep High School, at Higley High School main gymnasium on Saturday.

Holbrook, 14-3, captured the 16-team Diamond Division title, completing its tournament run with an undefeated 4-wins and no losses.

Holbrook outlasted the Tanque Verde Lady Hawks, 46-41, for the tournament title.

Winslow, 12-2, garnered the 16-team Platinum Division championship. The Lady Bulldogs finished the tournament with an umblemished 4-0 record.

Winslow knocked off the Alchesay Lady Falcons, 47-37 for the tournament championship.

During the final day of the White Mountain Holiday Classic, hosted by Blue Ridge High School, the Chinle Wildcats won one and lost one. Chinle finished the tournament 3-wins and 3-losses, including 1-win and 1-loss in pool play.

Chinle lost to host Blue Ridge Yellowjackets, 60-56, on Saturday morning. Chinle rebounded with a 59-46 victory over the Coconino Panthers, of Flagstaff, on Saturday afternoon. Chinle is 14-4 on the season.

Holbrook Lady Roadrunners

In a closely contested ball game, Holbrook fended off Tanque Verde during the fourth quarter.

Holbrook held a slim 31-29 at the end of the third quarter. The Lady Roadrunners outscored the Lady Hawks, 15-12, to post a five-point victory.

The game was knotted 11-11 at the end of the first quarter. Holbrook outscored Tanque Verde, 13-8, to take a 24-19 halftime lead.

The Lady Hawks battled back in the third quarter, outscoring the Lady Roadrunners, 10-7.

Holbrook head coach Greg Perkins said the Lady Roadrunners played well.

"We had some letdowns, but the girls came through on both ends of the floor," Perkins said. "We have some time off from games. The girls need some rest."

Madison Chappell led Holbrook with 21 points. Desirae Bain added eight points for Holbrook.

Holbrook junior Madison Chappell was voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Holbrook's Talynn Spencer and Matehya Aberle were selected to the All-Tournament team.

Tanque Verde's 5-foot-11 senior Nikya Orange talled 14 points and 5-foot-11 freshman Tessa Hastings added 12 points.

Holbrook will host Payson on January 8 at 6 p.m. in Tony Munoz Gymnasium.

Winslow Lady Bulldogs

Winslow outscored Alchesay three of the four quarters to post a victory over Alchesay in the tournament championship game.

Winslow outpointed Alchesay, 13-8, at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Falcons outcored Winslow, 9-7. The Lady Bulldogs held a 20-17 halftime lead.

The Lady Bulldogs extended its lead to 33-24 at the end of the second quarter. Winslow and Alchesay traded baskets throughout the fourth quarter, before the Lady Bulldogs outscored the Lady Falcons, 14-11.

"The girls played well," said Winslow head coach Jerron Jordan. "It was an all-around team effort. The reserves came through and played hard. Our team depth played a key role. In the first half, we played man defense. We switched in the second half to 2-3 zone defense. It took some time for Alchesay to adjust. When they were making adjustments, we got a good lead."

Kylie Begay poured in 18 points to pace Winslow. Brianna Little added eight points and Justine Butterfield added seven points.

Winslow freshman Kylie Begay was voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Winslow's Brianna Little and Justine Butterfield were selected to the All-Tournament team.

Alchesay was led by Jada Sanchez with eight points.

Winslow travels to Show Low to meet the Lady Cougars on January 8 in a 3A East Region game at 6 p.m.

Boys

Chinle Wildcats

Chinle and Blue Ridge met for the third time in this young season.

The Wildcats and Yellowjackets split its games during the Choice Wireless Classic in the Wildcat Den in Chinle, earlier this month. Blue Ridge won the semifinal matchup. Chinle battled its way back into the championship game. The Wildcats defeated the Yellowjackets for the tournament championship.

On Saturday, in an uptempo game, Blue Ridge held a three-point led, 18-15. The Yellowjackets tallied 21 points to Chinle's 12 points in the second quarter. At halftime, Blue Ridge held a 39-27 lead.

Chinle stormed back in the third quarter, canning 16 points to Blue Ridge's 10 points. Blue Ridge held a 49-43 lead as the third quarter expired. The Wildcats outscored the Yellowjackets, 13-11, in the fourth quarter.

"We came out flat defensively, that put us in a hole," said Chinle head coach Raul Mendoza. "The second quarter, we picked it up on both ends of the floor to put us back in the game. Down the stretch in the last two minutes, we didn't get the job done on offense."

Cooper Burbank tallied 18 points and Angelo Lewis added 11 points for Chinle.

Darrien Burnette scored 21 points, followed by Corey Endfield with 12 points and K.J. Anderson added 11 points for Blue Ridge.

Chinle completed its tournament play with a victory over Coconino Panthers.

Chinle raced out to an 18-9 lead. The tempo of the game slowed down in the second quarter, as the Wildcats outscored the Panthers, 7-5. Chinle held a 25-14 halftime lead.

The Wildcats extended its lead to 43-22 at the end of the third quarter, after outscoring the Panthers, 18-8. Coconino tallied 28 points to Chinle's 15 points during the fourth quarter.

"We got off to a good start in the first quarter, that allowed us to get everyone in the game," said Mendoza. "Overall, I was pleased with our effort in the tournament. We didn't make it to the finals, but the team did a great job in competing in the tournament, even in the game's we lost. We were never out of it."

Cooper Burbank poured in 16 points and Angelo Lewis added 11 points for Chinle.

Chinle entertains the Many Farms Lobos this Wednesday in the Wildcar Den at 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats continues its homestand, hosting the Kayenta Monument Valley Mustangs on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Chinle and the Tuba City Warriors meet in the Wildcat Den at Chinle on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats ends its four-game homestand with a game with the Wingate Bears on January 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Wildcat Den.

Preston Olney netted 14 points and Tanney McVeese canned 12 points for Coconino.