In a three-day tournament that was held Dec. 8-10, the Lady Bulldogs along with 12 other teams from 6A-2A schools from three states met at Flagstaff High School for the Pepsi Invitational Basketball Tournament.
On Dec. 8, the Lady Bulldogs faced the 6A Highland Lady Hawks in a game where the Ladies would trail through the first half. At the end of the third quarter, the Lady Bulldogs would finally take the lead on a three-point shot from beyond half court by Jaci Gonnie. The game would stay within reach of both teams until the end where Winslow took the win, 51-45.
On Dec. 9, the Lady Bulldogs took on the Green Valley Lady Gators of Henderson, Nev., for the second game of pool play. The Lady Bulldogs would take control of the game early and never let up for a final score of 67-30.
Later that day, the Lady Bulldogs would move to the championship bracket play to face the Lady Cougars of Show Low. The Lady Bulldogs would capture the lead early and never look back with a winning score of 60-38.
On Dec. 10, in the semi-finals game the Lady Bulldogs faced last year’s 6A state champs and this season undefeated Hamilton Lady Huskies. The Lady Bulldogs would be overpowered by the much taller Lady Huskies and fell short of a win, with a loss of 34-64.
Hamilton would go on to win the tournament with a win over 5A Sunrise Mountain Lady Mustangs of Peoria.
Winslow Lady Bulldogs shared the third-place finish with the Lady Eagles of Flagstaff.
Winslow’s lead scorers of the tournament were Gonnie with 60 points, and three three-point shots; Anysa Tso with 39 points, and two three-point shots; Shaelene Singer with 32 points, and six three-point shots; Jauslyn Nells with 26 points, and two three-point shots; Taylie Puhuhafvaya with 17 points, and four three-point shots; and Kaitlyn Belone with 12 points, and one three-point shot. Steals led by Tso with 11.
