Navajo-Hopi Observer

WINSLOW, Ariz. - The Winslow Lady Bulldogs defeated the Monument Valley Lady Mustangs 53-46 in an Arizona State 3A Conference Tournament basketball game played in Winslow on Saturday.  The win  earned the team a berth in the tournament semi-finals against top power points seeded Safford.  Winslow is ranked fourth in the power point system.

The Safford Lady Bulldogs earned their spot in the semi-finals with a 68-41 win at Safford on Friday. They had beaten the Blue Ridge Lady Yellowjackets 62-36 in their first round game.

Window Rock struggled in their quarter final game but managed to defeat the Alchesay Lady Falcons 71-67 to earn a berth in the semi-finals. Window Rock is ranked second in the power point system.

Snowflake defeated the Coolidge Lady Bears 62-39 in Coolidge on Friday to earn the right to play Winslow Rock in the semi-finals. Snowflake is the sixth ranked team in the power point system.

Coolidge was the highest rated team in the power point system to be eliminated from the tournament. They were rated third before their loss to the Snowflake Lady Lobos.

Winslow's win leaves retiring Coach Don Petranovich with a chance to pick up his ninth state championship. The Lady Bulldogs beat a tough, fifth rated in the power point system, Monument Valley Lady Mustangs team. Monument Valley edged Winslow for the state title last year. Friday's game was a shootout between two of the better players in the state. Winslow's Kourtney Shirley had 27 points while Monument Valley's Bradley Nash had 20 points.

Many in the northern region felt that it was a shame to have what was clearly two of the best teams in the tournament play and assure that one of them would be eliminated before the semi-finals on a neutral court.