Ariz. 4A Division II
Flagstaff, Page tangle for chance at title
Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK, Feb. 25, 2010
A battle is set today in the 4A-Division II state tournament as the No. 2 Flagstaff Lady Eagles face No. 6 Page in a semifinal match-up.
Flagstaff (20-3) won the Grand Canyon Region title over Page (19-4) by defeating the Lady Sand Devils twice in the regular season. The Lady Eagles won the teams' two match-ups 51-43 and 57-53.
Page girls defeat Flagstaff in state semifinal
WINDOW ROCK, Feb. 26, 2010
The No. 6 Page Lady Sand Devils upset No.2 Flagstaff, 49-47, on Thursday in the 4A-Division II semifinals at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott.
Page will play No. 1 Seton Catholic at 6 p.m. on Saturday for the state championship.
According to Flagstaff coach Tyrone Johnson, Page led 48-47 with 1.2 seconds left and the Lady Eagles had no timeouts.
Flagstaff tried to inbound the ball, but junior Kia Sandoval called a timeout and was called for a technical due to the team not having anymore timeouts.
Page's Chelsey Curtley hit one of the two technical free throws. With the technical, Page had possession of the ball and ran out the clock.
Page (21-4) was led by Candice Cornaby with 15 points and Mikala Williams with 11.
Ilenna Johnson of Flagstaff led all scorers with 29 points. Flagstaff ends their season 20-4.
Page returns to the championship game for the fourth straight year. They were runners-up the past three times.
Flagstaff is also riding a 12-game winning streak.
This third match-up will be for a chance to play the winner between Seton Catholic and Williams Field for the state title on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott.
"Page is a program rich in tradition and has been to the state championship game the last three years," Flagstaff head coach Tyrone Johnson said. "They are experienced in playing in state playoff games. Page is a very solid program."
To reach the semifinals, Flagstaff took care of No. 7 Thunderbird, 61-33, and Page got by No. 3 Cactus on the road, 42-38.
Against Cactus, Page head coach Justin Smith said team composure was key to their upset win. The Lady Sand Devils took their first lead in the fourth quarter with a minute remaining.
"The girls kept their composure down the stretch," Smith said. "Malarie Williams and Candice Cornby stepped up in the second half. Mal had some key steals and had some big steals in the fourth quarter and Candice owned the paint on both ends of the floor."
But against Flagstaff, Smith says they need to contain the Lady Eagles' top three players - Ileana Johnson, Kia Sandoval and Michelle Blanton.
Smith also said that they need to watch their turnovers.
"I'm expecting Flagstaff to put pressure on our guards, and attack the basket," Smith said. "We have to limit our turnovers and execute our defensive game plan if we want to be in the game."
Johnson is expecting Page to come at them with intensity and pressure defense.
"We are expecting Page to come out with great intensity and great energy," Johnson said. "We expect them to apply lots of pressure defensively and work for good shots offensively.
"We have to be ready for Page's best effort and best game," he said. "We have to, in turn, be ready to put our best foot forward and match their energy and intensity. We have to execute well and play solid defense."
Johnson said Page is a solid team all around.
"Page has several girls that can hurt you offensively and that play solid defense," he said. "So we won't key on any one player because they have several that can step up and play very well."
Boys
No. 3 Flagstaff was ousted Feb. 19 by No. 6 Palo Verde in overtime, 70-69.
Flagstaff led at the end of the first quarter, 17-12, and had the lead at the half, 34-30.
In the third quarter, Flagstaff was outscored 22-17 and Palo Verde led by one to end the quarter, 52-51.
At the end of regulation, Flagstaff tied it up at 67.
In overtime, Palo Verde outscored the Eagles 3-2 to win the game.
Jesse Tate led Flagstaff with 16 points and Tyler Tsingine added 15.
Flagstaff finished their season 19-5.
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