Page girls survive tough test with semifinal win over Winslow

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Feb 27, 2015 | Basketball |

Page’s Ashley Dempsey, right, congratulates Ariel Austin (5) after she makes a basket on Friday in the Sand Devils’ 52-48 win in Glendale, Ariz. (Times photo – Donovan Quintero)

GLENDALE, Ariz.

In a game worthy of a state final, the Page Lady Sand Devils turned back the Winslow Bulldogs in a classic semifinal game during the Arizona Division III girls state championships at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

The Sand Devils withstood a 23-point effort from Winslow senior Shandiin Armao in their four-point win.

Page coach Justin Smith said he liked the way Winslow played them tough, which ultimately served as a way to prepare for Saturday night’s championship game. Page will play the survivor of the Tuba City versus Safford game, which will be decided on Friday night at 6:15 p.m.

The championship is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Glendale, Ariz., which is expected to draw a large number of fans.

“I’m glad that we won,” Page coach Justin Smith said. “It doesn’t matter how we won, it’s about surviving and advancing. Sure, it would have been nice like last night where we put the hammer down after leading by 15 points, but I think this game prepared us for tomorrow night.”

Smith said his girls played different with senior point guard Ember Sloan on the bench due to foul trouble as the Sand Devils played tentatively for much of the second half.

Sloan, who eventually fouled out with 1:49 to go in the game, only played 10 minutes for the entire game.

With her in foul trouble, Winslow coach Jerron Jordan made some defensive adjustments as the Bulldogs batted back from a 26-14 halftime deficit.

“We brought more pressure in the second half,” Jordan. “Early on I thought we pressured them (Page), but I felt like they were going through it. They did a good job. And eventually, we got them in foul trouble.”

Jordan said they went from a zone press into a man-to-man press as him team collected a few steals and got some putbacks.

He said they missed a lot of bunny shots in the first half, but he credited Page for a job well done.

“Every loose ball went their way,” he said of Page.

In the second half those loose balls seemed to go Winslow’s way as they pulled within 49-48 with 1:04 left in the game behind Armao’s two free throws.

The Bulldogs, however, could not sustain the momentum as they finished out the game three costly turnovers.

As a consequence, they put Page at the free throw line as the Sand Devils iced the game by hitting three of six at the charity line.

Ariel Austin led Page with 15 points while Ashley Dempsey chipped in 14 points.

For Winslow, Armao finished out her prep career with 27 points, including 11 of 12 free throws.

“Shandiin has been an awesome player, she’s a true blessing,” Jordan said. “She’s always been our leader and it really showed. In the first half she did not play bad. Page just did a good job of containing her.”