Sand Devils' 11 game win streak ends with loss against Winslow

Their still sitting pretty as they near the playoffs.

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Last Thursday night’s ‘Hoopcoming’ home game resulted in a stunning loss for the Page Sand Devils at the hands of the Winslow Bulldogs. The loss ended the Sand Devils 11 game win streak (including tournament wins).

The adrenaline ran high during the first quarter when both teams hit the court ready to defend their reputations as skilled competitors.

The game’s first three minutes was a battle for possession. Three minutes into the game Winslow finally landed the first basket, and followed it up with a three-pointer.

The Sand Devils offense followed suit mid-quarter when Dainian Sloan (last name formerly  Bitsinnie) cut down the center of the lane and spun around the Bulldog's screen defense for a reverse lay up. The energy on the court remained high as fans witnessed great defense and offensive plays by both teams as the Sand Devil’s run and gun took a three point lead in the first quarter, 14 to 11.

During the second quarter the Sand Devils streamlined their defense as the Bulldogs felt the pressure to gain control of the ball. Sand Devils adjusted to the change in the Bulldog’s offense to prevent them from taking a lead. Salabiye used his signature steals on the Bulldogs’ offense and soon the whole Sand Devil’s team proved they possessed a talent for burglarizing the ball.

Sloan and Dempsey’s three-point baskets, combined with Jonah Larson’s solo fast break shot, gave the Sand Devils an eleven point lead. Utilizing player position and crisp pass execution they retained the lead, giving up only one basket with two minutes left in the first half. The Bulldogs stepped up their rebounding as they felt the pressure but couldn’t bridge the point gap due to turnovers. The halftime score was 34 to 27, Sand Devils.

In the third quarter Sand Devils took the court with a more patient play routine and switched up their expected routine positions. Rather than driving the ball they utilized an outside game play causing the Bulldogs to charge and commit more fouls. Sloan brought down rebounds and gave Dempsey the wide open opportunity to land a couple of three-pointers. Questionable fouls were repeatedly called on Salabiye forcing him to take the bench mid-quarter which gave the Bulldogs a second wind. At the end of the quarter the Bulldogs utilized a wider set of offensive plays that started to get them back into the game. At the end of third quarter the Sand Devils still held a favorable lead, 47 to 41.

The Bulldogs offense got an unexpected boost in the fourth quarter when they brought in fresh players off their bench who proved effective against the Sand Devils’ defense.

Six minutes into the quarter Sloan showed signs of leg muscle cramps and Salabiye was rotated back in. The Bulldogs kept the pressure on the Sand Devil’s defense gaining seven points back to back using some new offensive tactics.

With 2:32  left on the clock the Bulldogs tied the score, 51-51. The Sand Devils regained the lead with 1:31 left.

Sloan was injured when he collided with an opposing team member on a missed lay-up. Dempsey recovered the ball for the shot. The Bulldogs took advantage of Slaon’s injury and, a 5-4 advantage, and hit a three-point basket to give them the lead, 56 to 55. They furthered their lead 58 to 55 on the subsequent play.

The Sand Devils had xx opportunities to tie the game in the final 27 seconds, but Sloan, Justin Smith and Salabiye’s three-point shots all rattled out.

The Bulldogs stole a win from the Sand Devils with a final score of 58 to 55.

“We made mistakes before that last shot that cost us,” said boys basketball head coach Russ Skubal.  “That six-oh run before the half really cost us and early in the game we did things out of character, because this is a big game. Winslow is used to playing in big games and we are learning to play big games. It was a great learning experience for us.”

Skubal mentioned Winslow’s use of tactics not usually seen at regular season games, such as rolling the ball to save time on the clock and drawing out the defenders to open up the lane. “Winslow does a lot of things like that. We just made some mental mistakes at critical junctures. We lost a block on a good shooter to block another person who was also a good shooter.”

Coach Skubal is looking forward to his team’s next games against Window Rock and Chinle

“If we win those we can guarantee ourselves a first or second place,” he said. “Then the upcoming Tuba city game [on Thursday] will be gangbusters.”

The Sand Devils record is now 17-4 and they still hold the number one position in 3A north region.

“We won 11 in a row and now we gotta win another 11 in a row and win a state championship.” Skubal said.