Chinle squeaks past Show Low as St. Johns dominates Heber Mogollon

Chinle edged Show Low 48-45 in a close girls prep basketball matchup, and St. Johns rolled to a 65-26 victory over Heber Mogollon, delivering two of the more notable results for Apache County-area teams on the statewide scoreboard. The pair of outcomes on Jan. 12 provided a mix of drama and dominance that local programs will take into the stretch of the season.

Chinle’s three-point margin underscored a game decided in the final minutes, a result that will be framed locally as another chapter in area rivalries and late-season urgency. For small communities where high school gyms double as civic centers, such finishes sharpen interest in weekends and boost attendance at upcoming league games. Fans and family members who turned out saw a low-scoring contest that likely emphasized defense and possession management.

St. Johns’ 65-26 victory presented a contrasting storyline: a comprehensive performance that stretched a lead across all four quarters. Blowout wins carry immediate benefits beyond the scoreboard. They can calm pressure on coaching staffs, give younger players meaningful minutes, and affect local perceptions of program health as district play approaches. For St. Johns supporters, the result offers a clear sign of offensive efficiency and depth.

Other results of local relevance included Tuba City’s 76-40 win over Pinon and a pair of tight matchups elsewhere on the statewide list such as Ben Franklin’s 38-36 victory over Horizon Honors and Camp Verde’s 36-20 win against Veritas Prep. Together, these scores sketch the competitive landscape northern Arizona teams face as they jockey for positioning in region schedules and postseason seeding.

The local impact of these games extends beyond standings. High school basketball in Apache County remains a hub for community engagement, where volunteer scoreskeepers, booster clubs, and family networks sustain programs through travel and fundraising. Close wins like Chinle’s tend to galvanize that support, while decisive wins like St. Johns’ can strengthen youth pipelines and increase turnout at feeder games.

The takeaway? If you care about local sports and civic life, keep showing up to the gym. Your presence matters to players and programs, and these results are the kind of momentum that can define the next weeks of the season. Our two cents? Back the teams, check game schedules, and bring the whole section of town along.