Thursday, March 28, 2024

Chinle takes 58-55 win over Alchesay

Chinle takes 58-55 win over Alchesay

Chinle Wildcat Sooner Brady (32) shoots the ball against Alchesay’s Rashaan Stover (11) on Friday in front of a sold out Ganado Pavilion in Burnside Junction, Ariz. Chinle won, 58-55. (Times photo – Donovan Quintero)

Chinle Wildcat Sooner Brady (32) shoots the ball against Alchesay’s Rashaan Stover (11) on Friday in front of a sold out Ganado Pavilion in Burnside Junction, Ariz. Chinle won, 58-55. (Times photo – Donovan Quintero)


FORT DEFIANCE

The Chinle Wildcats are the lone area team remaining in the Arizona Division III boy’s state basketball tournament.

Chinle, the sectional champion, received a first round bye in the 24-team state tournament bracket. The Wildcats held off the Alchesay Falcons, 58-55, in the Sweet 16 round before a capacity crowd of more than 6,000 fans at the Ganado Hornet Pavilion.

With the win, Chinle, 22-10, advances to the state quarterfinals. The Wildcats meet Palo Verde Magnet of Tucson today at 12 p.m. at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

The survivor moves on into the Final Four on Friday at 1:30 p.m., facing the winner of Snowflake and Phoenix Cortez. The state championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m.

Chinle shot the ball well in the first quarter. The Wildcats held a 16-8 advantage at the end of the first period. Alchesay battled back in the second quarter. The Falcons outpointed the Wildcats, 18-13. The Wildcats continued to lead, taking a 29-26 halftime advantage.

The tempo of the game slow down as both teams patiently worked their offense in the third quarter. Alchesay outscored Chinle, 11-8, cutting the Wildcats’ lead to one point, 38-37, at the end of the third quarter.

Both teams stepped up in the fourth quarter as the tempo of the game went into overdrive. Chinle canned 20 points and Alchesay was not far behind, knocking down 18 points in the fourth quarter.

“It was a great game,” Chinle coach Brandon Tso said in a telephone interview. “The guys never gave up until the very end.”

Tso said the difference in the game came down to free throws.

“We made 8-of-10 free throws in the last two minutes of the game,” he said.

Alchesay head coach Kyle Goklish said the Falcons’ defense stepped up in the first half.

“We had 12 steals and that kept us in the game,” Goklish said. “We didn’t shoot as well as we should have.

Rashaun Stover did a good job. Rashaun’s shooting kept us in the game. He has been our key player all season long.”


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