Tuba City sweeps Winslow Bulldogs

TUBA CITY, Arizona — Tuba City High School used stifling defense to force Winslow into seven turnovers and poor shooting in the second quarter and the Warriors held on to beat Winslow, 73-67, in boys basketball action Wednesday night.

Tuba City improved to 16-7 overall and 9-2 in the Enchantment League. Winslow fell to 11-11 overall and 6-5 in the Enchantment.

Lavar Martin and James Justice topped the Warriors with 17 points each, Josh Allan fired in 16, Michael Wheeler scored seven and Tristan Kewanyama and Lyold Billy Jr. added a half dozen points each.

Brian Curtis paced Winslow with 18 points, Manuelito Shirley tossed in 14, Seth Davis scored a dozen, Braden James and Hestor Yazzie netted a half dozen each and Jonathan Upshaw added five points.

Neither team led by more than three points for most of the first period, but the Warriors pulled within 15-14 after the first period. The Bulldogs maintained a 22-20 edge at the four minute margin of the second stanza when Tuba City went on a 14 point tear. Warriors led 37-24 at intermission.

Tuba City led 40-28 when the Warriors went on an 8-1 run. The lead grew to 51-31 on a three point play by Justice but Winslow came storming back with seven straight points. Martin closed the third quarter with a three-point play as Tuba City led 59-41. Martin and Justice scored seven points each for the Warriors during the quarter.

Tuba City led 66-50 when Winslow had an eight point surge: Shirley and Curtis sank lay-ups and Davis sank two baskets as the Bulldogs pulled within 66-58 with 2:30 left in the game. Allan appeared to ice the age with a trey with two minutes to go, but Winslow didn’t give up.

The Warriors led 73-63 with 46 seconds left, but Winslow closed the game with six points as Shirley and Curtis sank lay-ups and Jonathan Upshaw hit two foul shots, but it was too little, too late.

Lady Warriors, Bulldogs

The Warriorettes dominated the Lady Bulldogs, 54-34, they remain undefeated in conference action. Tuba City improved to 23-3 overall and 11-0 in the Enchantment League. Nicole Tsingine topped the Warriorettes with 15, Jayme Lomakema fired in 10, Tammie Secody netted eight and Leigh Daw, Amy North and Tia Semallie scored four each. North led Tuba City with 10 rebounds and Tsingine grabbed five boards.

The Warriorettes connected on 21 of 47 shots, but held Winslow to 12 of 45 attempts.

Francine McCurtain and Faith Carpenter led Winslow with eight points apiece. Heather Johnson netted five and Nicole Begaii added four.

Carpenter scored four points in the opening period as Winslow grabbed an 11-8 edge. Tsingine had kept Tuba City close with four points.

Tuba City took control of the game in the second stanza by outscoring the Bulldogs 24-2 to grab a 32-13 bulge at intermission. The Warriorettes used a full-court press to shut down the Lady Bulldog offense during this quarter.

Lomakema and Tsingine fired in seven points apiece during the decisive quarter. Tuba City hit 11 of 16 shots during the period. Begaii connected on two foul shots to score Winslow’s only points of the period. Winslow committed nine turnovers during the second quarter.

McCurtain netted five points during the third period as Winslow outscored Tuba City by a deuce but the Warriorettes maintained 39-22 lead.

Tsingine scored five points in the final quarter as Tuba City coasted to the victory.