The Sand Devils basketball teams hosted the Window Rock Fighting Scouts Saturday, and the wrestling teams traveled to Kayenta to compete in the 3A North Region Tournament.

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball team looked the best they have all season Saturday in their game against Window Rock. Under the tutelage of head coach Justin Smith, it was plain to see the team’s skills and basketball IQ have increased dramatically since the beginning of the season. The team’s defense was head and shoulders above where it was in December.

When asked the key to Saturday’s victory, Coach Smith said, “Defense, defense, defense.”

The Scouts scored first, and they maintained a lead of 3 to 6 points for the first quarter of the game. They led 13 to 9 at the end of the first quarter. Powered by their strong defense, the Sand Devils had a big, productive offensive second quarter. The quarter began with Nolan McCormick stealing the ball from the Scouts’ point guard and converted the steal into a bucket. Orlandon Yazzie hit two free throws, tying the game at 13. On the Sand Devils next possession, Yazzie drove baseline and scooped in another basket, giving his team its first lead of the game. The Sand Devils boosted their lead to 6, but the Scout then battled back to within 1. The Sand Devils held a slim 21 to 18 lead going into halftime.

The Scouts briefly retook the lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter, but then the Sand Devils settled in to a defensive stand that they transitioned into a productive offense. Trailing the Scouts 21-24 the Sand Devils then went on a 15-0 scoring run. They closed out the third quarter leading 37 to 24. 

The Scouts offense rebounded – so to speak – in the fourth quarter and managed to whittle down the Sand Devils lead to 4. But their rally came too late; the Sand Devils gained the victory. The final score read Sand Devils 47, Scouts 43.

Tyree Stingley was the game’s leading scorer with 17 points, followed by Joey Benally who had 11 points.

The Sand Devils are now 13-8 overall, and 7-3 in the 3A North.  

Lady Sand Devils

The Lady Sand Devils entered Saturday’s game with renewed confidence after their 64-63 win against Monument Valley on Jan. 24, a victory that required three overtimes.

The Lady Scouts corralled the opening tip and scored on their first possession. The Lady Sand Devils followed it with a basket of their own. The Lady Sand Devils and Lady Scouts exchanged basket for basket for the game’s first quarter, tying the score at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 points. The Scouts led 12-10 at the end of the first quarter. 

But the Scouts went on an 8 to 2 scoring run to open the second quarter. The Scouts led 26-18 at half time. The Sand Devils offense collapsed in the game’s second half. They scored just 1 point in the third quarter, and 4 in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Scouts scored 12 points in the third, amassing an insurmountable 19-point lead going into the fourth quarter. The final score read Scouts 49, Sand Devils 23.

Window Rock’s Myabelle Begay was the game’s high scorer with 13 points. Sofia Cambridge was high scorer for the Sand Devils with 8 points, followed by Kylie Benale with 7 points.

The Lady Sand Devils are now 13-10 overall, and 5-5 in the 3A North.

Wrestling

The boys and girls wrestling teams traveled to Kayenta where they competed in the 3A North Region Tournament. Both teams had excellent tournaments. As teams, the She Devils won the tournament, the boys finished in second place.