The Southcentral Conference and Northern Lights Conference basketball tournaments opened three days of competition in the Valley on Thursday with the Nikiski Bulldogs competing in the Southcentral Conference tournament at Colony High School and the Kenai Kardinals and Soldotna Stars competing in the Northern Lights Conference tournament at Wasilla High School.
Southcentral Conference: First Day Results
The Nikiski boys and girls basketball teams both opened tournament play with first-round victories and advance to the winner’s-bracket semi-finals on Friday at Colony High School.
Nikiski Boys 48 – Seward 24
The Bulldog boys recorded a solid 48-24 victory over Seward in the tournament’s first boys contest, lead by Jace Kornstad’s 18 points. Nikiski lead 21-13 at the half and lead by 15 points after three quarters. The Bulldog boys advance to play #1 seed Anchorage Christian School in the 4:30 p.m. semi-final on Friday.
Nikiski Girls 69 – Houston 26
Following a 21-2 first quarter, the Nikiski girls overpowered Houston 69-26 in first-round action at Colony High School in the Southcentral Conference girls bracket. Nikiski lead 34-8 at the half and 59-25 after three quarters. Bethany Carstens lead the Bulldogs with 25 points, including four 3-pointers. The Bulldogs were at full strength for the first time in 70 days with the return of Kelsey Clark and the improved health of Rylee Jackson.
Nikiski advances to play Grace Christian School in the winner’s-bracket Friday night finale’ at Colony High School, scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Both Nikiski games will be broadcast on KSRM 920AM and www.radiokenai.com
Northern Lights Conference: First Day Results
Split results for the opening round of basketball games at the Northern Lights Conference basketball tournament at Wasilla High School; the Kenai girls knocking-off SoHi, the Kenai boys falling the Palmer and the Soldotna boys recording a victory and advancing to the semi-finals.
Kenai Girls 48 – SoHi Girls 36
The #5 seed Kardinal girls produced the first upset of the tournament in the Northern Lights Conference’s first game, downing the #4 seed Lady Stars 48-36 on the strength of pressure defense and rebounding. Kenai lead 18-14 at the half and twice turned-away rallies by the Stars, on their way to the first-round 12-point victory. Brooke Satathite lead the Kardinals with 20 points and Lexy Carrasco added 10 points for the Kenai girls. Aliann Schmidt topped the Stars with nine points.
The Kenai girls advance to challenge the #1 seed Wasilla Warriors in the NLC tournament’s semi-final, winner’s bracket on Friday at 5:00 p.m. at Wasilla High School.
The SoHi girls close tournament play with a consolation game at 10:00 a.m. on Friday.
SoHi Boys 70 – Kodiak 41
The SoHi boys overpowered Kodiak 70-41; the win advancing the Stars to Friday’s winner’s-bracket game at Wasilla High School.
SoHi’s Eli Sheridan lead the Stars with 19 points as three Stars scored in double figures including Sam McElroy with 12 and Luke Trammell with 11 points. The Stars led by seven at the half and outscored Kodiak 18-6 in the third quarter.
The SoHi boys advance to Friday’s winner’s bracket game game against the #1 seed Colony Knights, scheduled for 3:15 p.m. at Wasilla High School.
Kenai Boys 27 – Palmer 44
The #3 seed Palmer Moose gradually pulled-away from the Kenai Kardinal boys in the final game of the Northern Lights Conference’ first round on Thursday, recording a 44-27 victory over the Kardinal boys. Palmer’s Clayton Southwick scored 20 of the Moose’s 22 first half points and finished the game with 30 points. The Kards were lead by Luke Beiser with 16 points. Only three Kardinals scored in the contest.
The Kenai boys close-out tournament play on Friday with an 11:30 a.m. pairing against the Kodiak Bears at Wasilla High School.
All NLC games involving Kenai and Soldotna will be broadcast on ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
Thursday Basketball Results
South Central Conference at Colony High School
Homer Girls 40 – Seward 32
Nikiski Boys 48 – Seward 24
Grace Girls 42 – Redington 25
Homer Boys 54 – Redington 25
Nikiski Girls 69 – Houston 26
Grace Boys 61 – Houston 26
Northern Lights Conference at Wasilla High School
Kenai Girls 48 – SoHi 36
SoHi Boys 70 – Kodiak 41
Palmer Girls 45 – Kodiak 35
Palmer Boys 44 – Kenai 27
Friday Basketball Broadcast Schedule
Southcentral Conference on KSRM 920AM and radiokenai.com
4:30 p.m. – Nikiski Boys vs. ACS
6:00 p.m. – Nikiski Girls vs. Grace
Northern Lights Conferenceon ESPN 1140AM and radiokenai.com
10:00 a.m. – SoHi Girls vs. Kodiak
11:45 a.m. – Kenai Boys vs. Kodiak
3:15 p.m. – SoHi Boys vs. Colony
5:00 p.m. – Kenai Girls vs. Wasilla
