The Winslow Bulldogs opened their 2016-17 basketball season with six straight wins, most of them in the Sedona Red Rock Tournament. That streak came to an end in the Pepsi Invitational Tournament played last weekend in Flagstaff.
The Bulldogs continued their winning streak with an 80-74 victory over Kingman Academy before the Flagstaff tourney began. In that game the Bulldogs trailed 21-15 after the first quarter, but led 41-39 at the half and 62-55 after three quarters. Trishane Cly led all scorers with 24 points for Winslow. Darius James scored 20 for the Bulldogs and Junior Villanueva added 18. Cade Martin led Kingman Academy with 23 points, followed by Tyler Chirejere with 20 and Logan Day with 17.
Pima defeated the Bulldogs 82-35 in the first tournament game to give them their first loss of the season. The game was never close as Pima led 31-6 after the first quarter, 46-14 at the half and 68-20 after three quarters. Jarrett Kortchener led all scorers with 23 points for Pima. His teammates Alex Prusezynski and Trey Thompson added 17 and 11, respectively. Villanueva led Winslow with 9 points.
Northwest Christian defeated the Bulldogs 52-45 in their second tournament game.
Camelback then defeated Winslow 62-44. Camelback led 15-13 after the first quarter, but pulled away to a 30-17 lead at the half. The margin was 44-31 after three quarters. Villanueva led all scorers with 19 points for Winslow. James was also in double figures for the Bulldogs with 12. Elijah Mead led the Camelback offense with 16, followed by Shawn Black and Clay Hampton with 12 each.
The Bulldogs got their only win of the tournament in their last game, a 57-50 victory over Sunrise Mountain, but it took a second half comeback to secure the win. Sunrise Mountain held a 22-12 lead after the first quarter and a 35-24 advantage at the half. The Bulldogs came back to lead 41-38 after three quarters and pulled away in the final period. James led Winslow and all scorers with 16 points, followed by Villanueva with 14 and Pete Dalgai with 12. Jake Mattson and James Malawas were leading scorers for Sunrise Mountain with 14 points each.
