No. 9 Seed Ganado takes out Winslow in 3A playoffs

By Donovan Quintero
Special to Times

BURNSIDE, Ariz. — The Ganado Lady Hornets took full control of their playoff opener, defeating the Winslow Lady Bulldogs 68-61 in a fast-paced and physical battle in the 2025 AIA Girls 3A Basketball State Championship playoffs.

With an aggressive full-court press and a determined offensive effort, Ganado held off a late push from Winslow to secure their first postseason victory under interim coach Abigail Benally, who took over the program from former head coach Galen Williams.

“We knew we had to be intense from the start,” Benally said after the game. “Winslow is a tough team, and it’s the playoffs—win or go home. The girls came in with fire, and I’m really proud of them.”

Ganado set the tone early, scoring the game’s first points and disrupting Winslow’s offense with relentless defensive pressure. The Hornets forced multiple turnovers, frustrating the Bulldogs and limiting their ability to execute clean offensive sets. While Ganado’s pressure defense kept them in control, foul trouble in the third and fourth quarters allowed Winslow to close the gap.

Ganado also struggled from the free throw line, missing all three of their first-quarter attempts and at least 10 free throws overall. However, they made clutch shots down the stretch to maintain momentum.

“We’re usually pretty good from the free-throw line,” Benally admitted. “Tonight, it was iffy, but they picked it up when it mattered.”

On offense, senior guard Faith James led Ganado with 24 points, attacking the basket and controlling the tempo. Winslow’s Taylin Puhuhefvaya had a dominant 35-point performance, keeping her team within striking distance despite Ganado’s defensive pressure.

“She played well, but we made sure no one else got comfortable,” Benally said.

Despite Winslow’s offensive success, the Bulldogs struggled on the boards, allowing Ganado to out-rebound them 34-32.

“Rebounding kept popping into my head,” Winslow coach Janeen Barton said. “We’ve worked on being aggressive on the boards all season, but tonight, it just wasn’t there.”

The Bulldogs also had difficulty handling Ganado’s full-court pressure, leading to costly turnovers.

“There were moments where we broke through and played naturally,” Barton added. “But too often, we backed off and lost our confidence.”

For Benally, this victory was more than just a playoff win—it was a sign of how much her team has grown and matured over the season.

“I know I ask a lot of them, but they never complain,” she said. “They keep their heads up and put in the work. This win shows how much they’ve matured.”

According to MaxPreps, the Ganado Lady Hornets finished the regular season with an 18-10 overall record and a 6-7 region record, securing 4th place in their region and 40th in Arizona. Their success has been fueled by the leadership of Faith James, who has been the team’s offensive anchor, averaging 19.8 points per game with a 44% field goal percentage.

James has been supported by junior guard Jasah McIntosh, who averages 18.7 points per game and leads the team with a 49% shooting percentage. Together, they form one of the most formidable backcourt duos in the state, accounting for the bulk of Ganado’s scoring production.

In the paint, junior center Jayanna White has been a force, averaging 5.7 rebounds per game while contributing 7.4 points. Her presence on the glass was instrumental in limiting Winslow’s second-chance opportunities. Junior power forward Shawntaya Smith has also played a critical role, averaging 3.3 rebounds per game and adding defensive toughness.

James and McIntosh not only lead in scoring but also facilitate the offense, each averaging 2.5 assists per game. Defensively, James leads the team with 0.9 steals per game, while White contributes 0.6 steals per game, showcasing her versatility on both ends.

Ganado’s defensive intensity and depth have been key components of their resilient identity this season. Under the former leadership of Williams, the Lady Hornets developed into a gritty, well-coached squad, and Benally has continued to build on that foundation.

“This is a playoff-contender team,” Benally said, who debuted as Ganado’s head coach on Feb. 17. “And if we keep pushing, we can be a state-championship contender team, too.”

With the first playoff win secured, Ganado now prepares to face No. 13 seed Valley Christian in the next round. The Hornets have yet to face the Phoenix-area powerhouse, a team known for its perimeter shooting and disciplined half-court execution.

“We’ll be watching film, studying their tendencies,” Benally said. “And we’ll be ready.”

Ganado will also continue to rely on its home-court advantage, something Benally sees as a major factor in their success.

“The community really showed out tonight,” she said. “The energy helped push the girls and having that support again on Friday will be huge.”

For Winslow, their season comes to an end with a 23rd state ranking, a respectable finish but short of their postseason aspirations. With only two seniors—Biinay Patterson and Melishia Begay—graduating, most of the roster will return next year.

“This group is still learning the system,” Barton said. “Next year, my juniors will have three years in the program, and I think that experience will make a big difference.”

While the loss stings, Barton sees it as an important learning experience for her team.

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but I can’t be more proud of these girls,” she said. “We’ll take this, grow from it, and come back stronger.”

For the Lady Hornets, their defensive identity, veteran leadership, and balanced scoring attack have set them up for a strong postseason push. If they can clean up their free-throw shooting and limit fouls, Ganado has the tools to make a deep run in the tournament.

Tickets for Ganado’s next playoff matchup against Valley Christian are available on the AIA website. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Ganado Pavilion.

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