Page Lady Sand Devils garner Lake Powell tournament title

FORT DEFIANCE

Page ran the table at its own Lake Powell girls’ basketball classic, as the Lady Sand Devils chalked up three victories en route to the tournament championship.

Page garnered the tournament title, outlasting Arbor View of Las Vegas, Nevada, 45-42.

“Our defense was a big key that helped us win against Arbor View,” said first-year Page head coach Ryan Whitehorse. “We also outran them. They were a big team so we pressed them to slow them down and tried to get them tired. We then pushed the ball up in transition and scored on their turnovers.”

Whitehorse said Arbor View was athletic.

“They had two really quick guards and two big post players, one being very physical, but Jacey Salabiye did a good job containing her,” Whitehorse said. “Our guards did a good job of staying in front of their guards.”

Page held a 15-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. In a close second quarter, Page outscored Arbor View, 10-9, for a 25-22 halftime advantage.

The game remained close in the third quarter. The Lady Devils outscored Arbor View, 12-10, for a 37-32 lead at the end of the third period. The tempo of the game slowed down in the fourth quarter. Arbor View outscored Page, 10-8.

“Going into the fourth quarter, both teams were tired but I think we were a little more conditioned,” Whitehorse stated.

“I think what helped us pull out the win was our discipline at the end,” Whitehorse explained. “We controlled the tempo of the game throughout the whole game and when we needed to execute some set plays, we did. Our defense helped us at the end by rebounding when we needed forcing Arbor View to foul us and we finished at the free throw line.”

Salabiye led Page, canning 14 points. Myka Taliman added nine points and Natasha Henry netted seven points for the Lady Sand Devils.

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