Top-seeded Lady Scouts defeat Monument Valley, 65-51, to advance to 3A semifinals

Posted by Navajo Times | Feb 26, 2026 | Basketball |

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

WINDOW ROCK – A steady 10 to 15-point lead lifted top-seeded Window Rock Lady Scouts to a 65-51 win over No. 8 Monument Valley Mustangs in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Girls 3A Basketball State Championships.

Defense set the tone early for the Scouts. Senior Kourtney Bitselley poured in 20 points and freshman Naomi James added 19 to lead Window Rock.

“We knew that MV was gonna come out and give it their best and they never backed down, but neither did our girls,” said Window Rock coach Gabrielle Whitney. “What really helped us here was our defense. It’s all we’ve been practicing, and this was a prime example of it. I’m not too concerned with our offense because our girls are always going to score.”

“The last time we played Monument Valley, they outdid us on the boards. That was our main focus, boxing out, not just offensively but defensively as well.” Whitney added.

Sophomore Meggan Sandoval and senior Kanon Dalton led the Mustangs with 12 points each, while senior Tehya Yazzie added 11. Freshman Kemara Nichols chipped in eight.

Monument Valley briefly grabbed the early lead when freshman Darcy Anagal scored on a layup to open the game. Bitselley answered with a 3-pointer to put Window Rock ahead 3-2, and the Scouts would not trail again.

Both teams stayed within a possession until midway through the first quarter. With the Mustangs within 8-6, Window Rock went on a 12-7 run to close the quarter ahead 15-9. Bitselley led the way with six points in the opening frame. Kelly James added four, while Naomi James and Leilani Williams scored two apiece. Dalton knocked down a 3-pointer for Monument Valley, and Sandoval, Anagal and Yazzie each added a basket.

The Scouts created separation in the second quarter. After Anagal hit one of two free throws to cut the deficit to 19-14 at the 5:34 mark, Window Rock responded with a decisive 16-2 run to close the half ahead at 30-16. Bitselley scored seven in the quarter, while Tiana Edison added four. Winnter Gibney and Cauleen Segay contributed two points each. Anagal led the Mustangs with three points in the quarter, with Sandoval and Nichols adding two apiece.

Monument Valley showed fight in the third, outscoring Window Rock 21-16 and trimming the margin to nine entering the final period. Naomi James led the Scouts with six points in the quarter, Bitselley added five, and Edison and Williams combined for five more. Yazzie scored seven to lead the Mustangs, while Dalton added six. Nichols and Sandoval combined for four.

Any thoughts of a comeback were quieted in the fourth. Window Rock outscored Monument Valley 19-14 to seal the 14-point victory. James took control with 11 points in the quarter, while Williams and Edison added three each and Bitselley chipped in a field goal. Sandoval scored four for the Mustangs, Dalton and Jodi Todacheene each hit a three, and Yazzie and Nichols added baskets to close out the game with the final score of 65-51.

Window Rock (20-9) plays No. 4 Alchesay (22-10) in Friday’s 3A state semifinals at 6 p.m. at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. Alchesay reached the semis with a 59-42 win over the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Lady Lions.

The Mustangs closed out their season at 13-15, which included a fourth-place finish in the 3A North.

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