BOYS

WHITE MOUNTAIN TOURNAMENT-BLUE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

FORT THOMAS 64, CHINLE 62

The Fort Thomas Apaches edged the Chinle Wildcats, 64-62, in White Mountain Tournament at Blue Ridge High School on Thursday.

Fort Thomas and Chinle were tied 17-17 at the end of the first quarter. The Apaches outscored the Wildcats, 18-16, to take a 35-33 halftime advantage.

Chinle outscored Fort Thomas, 17-13, in the third quarter, for a 50-48 lead. The Apches pulled off a victory, when Fort Thomas netted 16 points to Chinle's 12 points during the fourth period.

Malach Rogers and Skyler Kindeby both scored 12 points each to lead Fort Thomas.

Cooper Burbank knocked down 20 points and Malik Bahe add 17 points for Chinle.

"We allowed Fort Thomas to out hustle us in the first half that gave them a lead at halftime," said Chinle head coach Raul Mendoza. "In the second half, we played more consistently. Late in the game, we made some mental mistakes that lost us the game."

BOYS

WHITE MOUNTAIN TOURNAMENT-BLUE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

CHINLE 74, SAN TAN FOOTHILLS 59

After an opening tournament loss, Chinle rebounded with a 74-59 victory over San Tan Foothills.

Chinle took a 15-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Wildcats held a 30-20 halftime advantage, after outscoring San Tan Foothills, 15-7, in the second quarter.

The Wildcats turned in a shooting performance in the third quarter, canning 25 points. San Tan Foothills netted 15. San Tan Foothills poured in 24 to Chinle's 19 points in the fourth quarter.

Cooper Burbank tallied 25 points to pace Chinle. Curtis Begay added 14 points and Payton Wagner chipped in 10 points for the Wildcats.

Kevin Tucker scored 13 points and David Corral contributed 11 points for San Tan Foothills.

"It was a great team effort on defense," said Chinle head coach Raul Mendoza. "Our leaders led us to an awesome win against a good San Tan Foothills team."

The tournament continues today and Saturday.

BOYS

CHANDLER PREP NEW YEAR'S CLASSIC

PARADISE HONORS 73, WINDOW ROCK 43

Paradise Honors stopped the Window Rock Scouts, 73-43, in the Pre-Bracket Games of the boy's Diamond Division of the Chandler Prep New Year's Classic.

Paradise Honors took a 22-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Paradise Honors tallied 16 points to Window Rock's eight points in the second quarter for a 38-18 halftime advantage.

Window Rock outscored Paradise Honors, 16-15, in the third quarter. Paradise Honors continued to lead, 53-34. Paradise Honors netted 20 points to Window Rock's nine points during the fourth period.

Marion Ynunza led Window Rock with 10 points.

"We just couldn't get anything started from the beginning," said Window Rock head coach Tom Bizardi. "I just want this team to understand that it is a process to build competitive team. It will take time and be patient with the process."

The tournament continues today and Saturday.

GIRLS

CHANDLER PREP NEW YEAR'S CLASSIC

CHINLE 55, VALLEY SANDERS 43

Meishyla Begay, Aisha Ashley and Tea Murray combined for 41 points to help lead the Chinle Lady Wildcats toa 55-43 victory over the Valley Sanders Lady Pirates in the Dimaond Division opening round of the Chandler Prep New Year's Classic.

Begay led Chinle with 15 points, followed by Ashley and Murray with 13 points apiece.

Ramona Nez topped Valley Sanders wit 19 points and Nizhoni James added 12 points.

Valley Sanders raced out to a 12-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. Chinle outscored the Lady Pirates, 19-10, to take a 25-22 lead at halftime.

The Lady Wildcats increased its lead to 40-34 lead at the end of the third quarter. Chinle canned 15 points to Valley Sanders' nine points during the fourth period.

"We had a slow start," said Chinle head coach Fran McCurtain. "We picked up our defense and took advantage of thei zone defense."

McCurtain said Meishyla Begay knocked down four three-pointers in the second quarter for five three-pointers for the first half.

"In the second half, it was about keeping our composure and our game," McCurtain said. "We focused mainly on rebounding. My talk did awesome. We got second chance shots. It was a great first game of the new year fo us."

The tournament continues today and Saturday.

GIRLS

CHANDLER PREP NEW YEAR'S CLASSIC

HOLBROOK 48, FLORENCE 40

The Holbrook Roadrunners outpointed the Florence Gophers, 48-40, in a first round game during the Diamond Division of the Chandler Prep New Year's Classic girl's basketball game on Thursday.

Holbrook took a 15-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. Florence netted 13 points to the Roadrunners' nine points in the second quarter for a 26-24 lead.

Holbrook regained the lead in the third quarter, 41-36, outscoring Florence, 17-10, in the third quarter. The Roadrunners canned seven points to Florence's four points in the fourth quarter.

Matehya Aberle led Holbrook with 19 points and Madison Chappell added 12 points.

"We played better at moments," said Holbrook head coach Greg Perkins. "Hopefully this tournament will help us get things turned around."

The tournament continues today and Saturday.

GIRLS

CHANDLER PREP NEW YEAR'S CLASSIC

WINDOW ROCK 51, CASTEEL 47

The Window Rock Lady Scouts posted a 51-47 victory over Casteel in the first round of the Diamond Division of the Chandler Prep New Year's Classic on Thursday.

The Window Rock-Casteel contest was tied 13-13 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Scouts outpointed Casteel, 14-12, to take a 27-25 halftime lead.

Window Rock tallied 17 points to Casteel's 12 points in the third quarter, for a 44-37 lead. The Lady Scouts netted seven points to Casteel's 10 points during the fourth stanza.

Rachael Smiley led Window Rock with 12 points and Jana Solee added 11 points.

Autumn Frank tallied 17 points and Daeja Johnson chipped in 13 points for Casteel.

"We rebounded well against Casteel," said Window Rock head coach Sharon Toadecheenie. "The girls hustled and took care of the ball. We hit our free throws down the stretch, We scored 6-of-10 free throw attempts. We played a well balanced game."

The tournament continues today and Saturday.

GIRLS

CHANDLER PREP NEW YEAR'S CLASSIC

WINSLOW 66, RIO RICO 56

The Winslow Lady Bulldogs pulled off a 10-point victory, 66-56, over Rio Rico in the first round of the Diamond Division of the Chandler Prep New Year's Classic.

Rio Rico turned in a strong shooting performance in the first half. Rio Rico outscored Winslow, 19-7, in the first quarter, followed by a 13-9 scoring performance in the second quarter. Rio Rico held a 32-16 halftime lead.

Winslow battled back in third quarter, knocking down 27 points. Rio Rico led, 45-43, at the end of the third quarter. The Lady Bulldogs outscored Rio Rico, 23-11, during the fourth period.

Kylie Begay and Andrea Willeto both scored 16 points and Sierra Singer added 13 points for Winslow.

Rio Rico's Lisandro Chavez led all scorers with 32 points.

"My team made a great second half comeback by getting defensive stops," said Winslow head coach Jerron Jordan. "I am very proud of their effort."

The tournament continues today and Saturday.