The Tuba City Lady Warriors and Window Rock Fighting Scouts chalked up 3A North Region girl's and boy's basketball victories respectively in the regular season finale in the spacious Window Rock High School Events Center in Fort Defiance.

Tuba City was eight points better than Window Rock Lady Scouts, 60-52. With the victory, Tuba City, 16-7, tied the Chinle Lady Wildcats, 15-7, for second place in the 3A North Region standings, with identical 6-4 records.

Tuba City defeated Chinle twice (49-47 and 55-51) in region play during the season and will be the second seed in this week's 3A North Regional Tournament, beginning this Thursday in Kayenta. As second seed, Tuba City has earned a first round bye, along with number one seed Page Lady Sand Devils, 21-4, who finished 10-0 in region.

In the boy's contest, Window Rock held off Tuba City in the final two and one/half minutes of the fourth quarter, for a 64-60 win.

Girls

Tuba City 60, Window Rock 52

Window Rock shot well early in the opening quarter. A basket by Sonja Ayze, a free throw by Halaya Shirley and a bucket by Asia James lifted Window Rock to a 5-0 lead.

Tuba City remained scoreless until Shiala Dugi canned a basket with 3:32 left. Shirley knocked down a basket, as the Lady Scouts held a 7-2 lead.

Aliyah Freeman's basket gave Window Rock a 9-3 lead with 2:08 remaining. Tuba City went on an 8-1 run. Two baskets by Mikeya Sheppard lifted Tuba City to an 11-10 lead, as the first period ended.

Tuba City and Window Rock exchanged baskets through the initial four minutes of the second quarter, until the Lady Scouts outscored the Lady Warriors, 7-1 for a 23-19 lead.

Sheppard and Dugi combined for eight points, (Sheppard five points and Dugi three points), during the final two minutes of the second quarter, for a 27-23 Tuba ity lead at halftime.

Shirley netted a basket to lift Window Rock to a 33-31 lead with 5:42 remaining in the third period. Tuba City regained the lead when the Lady Warriors' Larissa Yazzie nailed a trey, followed by a basket by Jayda Chee and Chenille Nodman. Tuba City held a 38-33 advantage.

Talkalai hit one of two charity tosses, bringing Window Rock within four points, 38-34, with 3:47 left. Tuba City rallied. The Lady Warriors outscored the Lady Scouts, 11-2, for a 49-36 lead when the third quarter expired.

Asia James knocked down a trey, followed by a basket by Jana Solee, lifting Window Rock within eight points, 49-41, with 7:14 left in the fourth quarter.

Larissa Yazzie buried a three-pointer, as Tuba City stretched its lead to 12 points, 55-43, with 5:30 left. Two free throws by Solee and a basket by Ashley Hale brought Window Rock within six points, 56-50, with less than two minutes left.

With 34 seconds remaining in the game, Yazzie connected a pair of free throws for a 58-50 lead. Asia James answered with a pair of charity tosses, as the Lady Scouts were within six points, 58-52. With less than a one second remaining, Tuba City's Yazzie score a basket.

Mikeya Sheppard tallied 17 points and Larissa Yazzie added 16 points to pace Tuba City.

Tuba City head coach Kimberly Williams said her team played outstanding.

"The girls did an outstanding job," Williams said. "Our defense did a good job containing them. We made adjustments. The first time we played them, we played zone defense. This time we played man defense. The defense was the difference. Mikeya (Sheppard), our sophomore guard, played outstanding. She was a key. As we head into the regional tournament, we are getting back where we should be."

Jana Solee canned 11 points and Asia James tallied 10 points for Window Rock.

Boys

Window Rock 64, Tuba City 60

Tuba City started strong on both ends of the floor during the opening six minutes of the game.

Tuba City sophomore Jeremiah Byjoe had a hot hand. Byjoe knocked down 12 of the Warriors initial 19 points. Window Rock could muster five points.

During the final minute of the first quarter, the Fighting Scouts outscored the Warriors, 7-2. When the first stanza ended, Tuba City held a 21-12 lead.

The second quarter was reversed. Window Rock dominated in the second period.

Window Rock senior guard Trevor Herbert scored 10 of the Fighting Scouts' 16 points. Herbert canned one trey, three free throws and two field goals from the perimeter.

In fact, Tuba City scored the opening basket, a bucket by senior Ty Engle with 7:22 remaining in the second period. The Warriors did not score until 1:02 left, when Engle netted a basket from the perimeter. Tegan Tsinigine knocked a basket with 34 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

During Window Rock's rally, the Fighting Scouts outscored the Warriors, 16-6. When the second stanza expired, Window Rock held a 28-27 halftime lead.

The Warriors took a three point lead, 33-30, when Tyler Williams knocked down a three pointer. The Fighting Scouts outscored the Warriors, 9-2, capped by a basket and two free throws by Marian Ynzunza. The Fighting Scouts raced to a five point advantage, 40-35, with 2:31 remaining in the third period.

Tuba City's Byjoe pumped in a three-pointer and Engle added a pair of charity tosses, as the Warriors tied the game at 40-40, with two minutes left. Window Rock's Adrian Destea buried a three-pointer and Talon Jenson added a basket from the perimeter for a 45-40 lead. Tuba City answered on Engle's basket and Byjoe's trey with two seconds left, which tied the game at 45-45 when the third quarter ended.

The Fighting Scouts took a 51-46 lead on Destea's trey early in the fourth quarter. Tuba City battled back, with a trey by Byjoe and Williams and a basket by Engle, which gave the Warriors a 54-51 lead. with 3:20 remaining in the game.

During the next two minutes, Window Rock outscored Tuba City, 9-2, for a 60-56 lead with 1:24 remaining in the game.

A basket by Byjoe brought Tuba City within two points, 60-58. Tuba City quickly called time out with 52.3 seconds left. Inbounding the ball after the timeout, the Fighting Scouts milked the clock before Destea hit a basket for a 62-58 lead. Tuba City's Byjoe answered with a pair of free throws, cutting Window Rock's lead to two points, 62-60, with 21.9 seconds.

Fighting Scouts Ynzunza was fouled with 15.1 seconds. He missed the front end of an one-plus-one bonus free throw. Window Rock got the ball back. Byjoe fouled out while fouling Destea with 9.7 seconds. Destea missed the first attempt and sank the second free throw for a 63-60 lead.

Tuba City called timeout after the free throw was successful. The Warriors pushed the ball down the floor with hopes of tying the game with a three-point attempt. The Warriors committed a turnover. Window Rock's Derian Long was fouled. Long missed the first attempt and made the second attempt.

Window Rock's Trevor Herbert tallied 17 points, followed by Adrian Destea with 16 points and Marian Ynzunza added 10 points.

Tuba City's Jeremiah Byjoe led all scorers with 27 points. Ty Engle tallied 18 points for the Warriors.

Tuba City head coach Terence Billy said inexperienced showed.

"I am proud of the guys," Billy said. "The guys played hard and did not give up. We're a young and inexperienced team. We started off well. We had some lapses that hurt us. The guys bounced back. The guys turned in a good first quarter. The guys did not play well in the second quarter, which allowed Window Rock to come back to tie the game."

Billy continued, "Ty (Engle) is a senior and is a leader. Jeremiah (Byjoe) is a sophomore. He's a good shooter. I start two freshmen. Throughout the season, our inexperience has showed. The guys are learning. We've had close games, such as tonight. Now it's time to concentrate on next week's Regional Tournament. I have high hopes of doing well in the Regional Tournament."