Defensive spark powers Chinle girls over Ganado

CHINLE

Continuing one of their best seasons in program history, the Chinle girls’ basketball team defeated Ganado for the third straight time on Tuesday night.

The Lady Wildcats did a good job fronting Ganado the entire night, especially during the second and fourth quarter to post a 47-35 win.

In those two quarters, Chinle held the Lady Hornets to five and four points, respectively.

“I was real concerned about tonight’s game,” Chinle coach Peterson Butler said. “I do believe that Ganado was wanting to come out and beat us. We prepared well for them and this win puts us in a good situation for the region tournament.”

Chinle improved 16-3 overall and 6-1 in 3A North Conference play, while Ganado dropped to 19-7 and 4-5.

Against a dangerous team, Butler said it was necessary to not get out of defensive position as Chinle erased an early 10-4 deficit at the start of the opening quarter and turning it into a 13-10 cushion.

The Lady Wildcats turned it up a notch and built a 27-15 lead at the break with Nahatabaa Nacona, Quannah Ryan and Amanda Antone scoring four points each.

“We played some hard-nosed defense,” Butler said. “We gave them some instructions of not going for steals. We had to stay in front and I think we did that.”

In fact they held JaeLynn Curley, Ganado’s leading scorer to a humble five.

“Usually, she is consistent with 16 points per game,” Ganado coach Mike Bitsuie said of Curley. “But nothing went in for her, on her drives nor her shots.”

With the utmost respect for Curley, Nacona made sure that she had a hand in her face and “once (Curley) starts to twist” she had move back to avoid sending her to the charity line.

Curley was not the only Ganado player in a slump on Tuesday night. Junior shooting ace Camille Uentillie made only two baskets while freshman post Michelene Coleman was held at six.

“Our shots were not going in,” Bitsuie said. “We kept shooting, but it was one of those nights where we couldn’t make any shots. We had to make shots to stay with them because Chinle is a good team.”

Nacona said their efficient defensive effort was all about preparation.

“We trust what we do in practice and if you want to win and if you want to succeed in basketball you have to prepare,” Nacona said. “Defense is what our two coaches stress – Deborah Tsosie and Butler. They stress about how defense is going to win games.”

---