Girls
Seward 51, Glenallen 29
The Seward girls’ basketball team clinched the Class 2A state championship Saturday, defeating Glennallen 51-29 at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. The Seahawks rebounded from season-opening losses to Soldotna and Palmer, winning 26 straight games to secure their second girls’ basketball state title in Seward High School history—the first since 1998.
No. 3 seed Seward (27-2) dominated behind Mikinley Williams’ 22 points and Ava Jagielski’s all-around performance with 10 points, eight rebounds, six steals, and five assists. Glennallen, the No. 4 seed, finished 18-4.
Williams and Jagielski were named to the Class 2A all-tournament team, recognizing their standout performances throughout the state tournament.
Boys
Shaktoolik 76, Cook Inlet Academy 55
The Cook Inlet Academy Eagles battled their way to the Class 1A state championship game but fell short against Shaktoolik, losing 76-55 Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center.
The Eagles (21-6) had hoped to add another state title to their collection, but despite a strong 31-point performance from junior Alek McGarry, they were unable to overcome the Wolverines’ defense and fast-paced offense. Shaktoolik, the top seed, established an early 23-13 lead, which CIA could never recover from.
Turnovers were a major issue for Cook Inlet, as the team committed 21 compared to Shaktoolik’s eight. The Eagles had a tough time breaking Shaktoolik’s 1-3-1 zone defense, with standout Wolverine freshman Chase Katchatag contributing 22 points, 14 rebounds, and a strong defensive presence.
On ESPN 1140AM sports talk show The Replay with Nick, Nolan, and Sarge, Senior Ian McGarry reflected on the team’s growth, noting how far they’ve come since their last state appearance in 2012. Though they fell short this year, the Eagles fought hard and had a strong season, including key victories over Class 4A teams during the Al Howard Shootout at Soldotna High School.
Coach Ben McGarry expressed optimism about next year’s prospects, with many talented players returning.
Alek and Ian McGarry were both named to the 1A Boys All-Tournament Team.
Seward 52, Metlakatla 49
On Saturday, the Seward boys’ basketball team earned third place at the Class 3A state tournament, defeating No. 2 Metlakatla 52-49. The win was a strong rebound after a heartbreaking 44-42 loss to No. 1 Unalakleet in the semifinals.
Seward trailed by as much as 16 points in the fourth quarter but mounted a remarkable comeback. Emerson Cross scored a layup to give the Seahawks a two-point lead in the final minute and hit 1 of 2 free throws to seal the win with 8 seconds left.
Seward showed toughness and resiliency by bouncing back after the tough semifinal loss to Unalakleet. In that game, Seward had a tie-breaking free throw waived off due to a lane violation. The free throw would have given the Seahawks their first lead of the semifinal at 43-42 with only 8 seconds remaining in the game. With the game tied 42-42 after the canceled point, Wolfpack guard Paxson Commack raced the floor in about 7 seconds to make the game-winning layup.
In the 3rd/5th place game against Metlakatla, Talon Lemme led the Seahawks with 17 points, while Cross and Van Shank added 11 each.
