FLAGSTAFF - Coming in as the No. 3 seed from the 3A North Region, the Winslow girls basketball team beat the No. 2 seed from the West, Fountain Hills, 78-59 Wednesday in the first round of the 3A state tournament at Northern Arizona University’s Walkup Skydome.
Bulldogs coach Don Petranovich said his team was coming off a two-week slump.
“We haven’t been playing very well. We haven’t been shooting well at all,” Petranovich said. “I was happy with the shots we made tonight.”
Winslow tallied 30 field goals in their first-round game, seven of which were 3-pointers.
Four of those shots from behind the arc were by Levyna Ben, who scored 18 points.
Teammate Arveda Yazzie recorded a better scoring night, finishing with 20, which included two 3-pointers.
Winslow’s defense did falter at times, however.
“I wasn’t too happy with our defense. We gave up a lot of open shots and layups,” Petranovich said.
Abbye Eiklor was the main benefactor for Fountain Hills, scoring 16 points, which included a pair of 3-pointers.
Esther Jones and Mollie Howard followed with nine points each for the Falcons.
Winslow had a five-point lead after the first quarter.
Most of the opening period was spent in the Falcons’ defensive half, with Winslow utilizing a high-pressure, fullcourt press.
- ARIZONA DAILY SUN

