They play Winslow Friday.
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The No. 2 seeded Lady Sand Devils defeated the Tuba City Warriors 43-42 Monday night advancing to the semifinals.
Both teams got off to a cold start offensively. The Sand Devils scored just six points in the first quarter, the Warriors scored only three.
The Lady Sand Devils were able to maintain a two or three point lead throughout the second quarter up until the three minute mark, at which point the Warriors’ offense got hot. They tied the game at 15 and took the lead on their next possession. It was the first time the Sand Devils have trailed in Sectional play all season. Tuba City went on to outscore the Sand Devils 22-12 in the second quarter and took a 25-18 lead with them into the locker room.
The Sand Devils battled back to within two points after back to back baskets in the third quarter’s opening minute. As time ran out in the third, and still trailing by two, Myka Taliman attempted a three-point shot as time ran out. She missed the shot but was fouled in the process. She went to the free throw line where she was given three shots. She hit two of them to tie the game at 31 going into the fourth quarter.
The two teams traded the lead five times during the fourth quarter. The Sand Devils eventually won the game from the free throw line. In the game’s final two minutes, Camryn Nockideneh, a 72 percent free-throw shooter, hit two for two free throws, and Miquedah Taliman, a 77 percent free-throw shooter, hit four for four free throws.
The Sand Devils held a three point lead with eleven seconds left in the game. The Warriors hit a final two-point shot as time expired. The Sand Devils won 43-42.
Mikala Benally and Camryn Nockideneh each had ten points Monday night. Miquedah Taliman had nine points and Myka Taliman had eight.
“Tuba City came to play,” said girls basketball assistant coach David Jenner after the game, “and I think maybe our girls overlooked them. But when it came down to it they didn’t give up. There’s no quit in these girls. They’re gonna kick. They’re gonna fight, they’re gonna claw.”
Page will play the Winslow Bulldogs in the semi-finals Friday. The Sand Devils lost to them in the early season, 46-45.
