Wnslow's girls basketball team continued to run roughshod over the oppostion in the Division III state tournament on Friday. This time it was familiar foe Holbrook, a longtime rival. The Lady Bulldogs methodically  pulled away in the second half to record a 69-46 thumping of the Roadrunners at Jobing.com Arena.

Winslow (26-5) faces No. 2 seed Valley Sanders for the D-III championship on Saturday (Feb. 23) at 8 p.m. at Jobing.com Arena. No. 12 Holbrook surprised two higher seeds on the way to the semifinals -- No. 5 Alchesay and No. 4 Tuba City. The Lady Roadrunners finished the season 23-13.Winslow has beaten Monument Valley by 28, Safford by 32 and Holbrook by 23 in its three tournament games.

Winslow pounded away inside with sophomore forward Shandiin Armao, who scored 25 of her game-high 32 points in the first three quarters when the outcome was put to rest. Winslow made only one field goal in the first half that would be considered a perimeter shot -- a 15-footer by Tannon Tom. Everything else was a layup, putback or bucket in transition. The Lady Bulldogs shot 50 percent for the half (15-of-30).

Winslow led 17-16 after the first period as Holbrook kept pace by hitting two threes. Winslow stretched its lead 37-28 at  halftime as Holbrook's marksmanship from outside gradually wained. The Lady Roadrunners made two more threes to stay within nine at  the break, but their shooting continued to tail off and turnovers didn't subside. Holbrook finished with 24 turnovers and shot 29 percent from the field (15-of-52)  for the game. Holbrook's ability to rally in the second half was thwarted by 5-of-26 shooting from the field.

It was the third time this season Winslow defeated Holbrook. Winslow prevailed twice in January by scores of  68-37 and 60-42.

"They came out tough on us right off the bat," Winslow coach Jerron Jordan said. "It gets a little harder each time you play someone liike them who is a rival."

Holbrook tried to limit Winslow's inside game by trapping in front court, but that didn't succeed. Armao got the ball plenty in the paint, making 10-of 15 field goals and 12 of 15 free throws. Armao also grabbed 15 rebounds.

Winslow also got meaningful contributions from guard Laylane Benslow (eight assists), forward Halle Hayes (11 points, 11 rebounds and five steals) and guard  Mattea Begaii (nine points, five steals and five assists).

Holbrook was led in scoring by Kaynasa Curley with 12 points and Starla Smith with 10. Winslow, which has won seven girls basketball titles and been runner-up eight times, hopes to even that slate Saturday night against Valley Sanders. Winslow was runner-up last year to Page.

"It's rewarding to get back (championship game)," Jordan said. "They took last year's loss as a lesson, and have built on it."