The Winslow Bulldogs started off the New Year at the Epic Tournament along with 30 other teams and four locations in the Valley at the two-day event. Winslow would play at Leading Edge Academy in Gilbert.
In the first game the Bulldogs would face the 2A San Carlos Braves in a game that would stay close in the first half and then in the second half the Bulldogs took the lead and won 68-60.
Winslow had three players in double figures led by Jacoby Chee with 30 points, Josh David with 13 and Jayden Curtis with 11 points.
In the second game, the Bulldogs faced the 6A Tolleson Wolverines. The Bulldogs would start off slow but quickly get in gear and hold the lead throughout with a 73-48 win. Winslow had four players in double figures led by Jayden Curtis with 16 points, Jeremiah Acothley with 15, and Chee and Jaden Taylor with 10 points each.
On day two of the tournament the Bulldogs faced the very physical Florence Gophers in a game that would be a battle with both teams with players fouling out. The game would be an edge-of-your-seat game, with the Gophers defeating the Bulldogs in the final seconds 83-81.
Winslow had four players in double figures led by Chee with 29 points including, Curtis with 13, Acothley with 12 and Antonio Nezzie with 11 points.
In the final game of the tournament the Bulldogs would face the Snowflake Lobos who were bested by 2A Scottsdale Christian. This game would be a nail-biter and preview of the upcoming season, with these teams scheduled to meet again twice in the regular season. In the final seconds of the game Lobo Jhett Udall would be on the line shooting two. He would miss the first hit but made the second to give the Lobos the win 66-65.
Winslow had two players in double figures led by Curtis with 24 points and Acothley with 14 points.
The Bulldogs will start conference play at home facing the Roadrunners of Holbrook on Jan. 6. They will then travel to Show Low to face the Cougars on Jan. 9, and then on Jan. 13 to Lakeside to take on the Yellow Jackets of Blue Ridge, all games start at 7:30 p.m.
