The Seward Boys and Homer Girls Basketball teams headed to Anchorage this week for the 3A State Tournament. The Seahawks placed 6th overall, while the Lady Mariners fell in back-to-back games.
Seward had a tough opening-round draw in the Grace Christian Grizzlies, a rematch of the Peninsula Conference Championship on Mar. 8. In the conference title game, the Seahawks carried a lead into the final quarter but, despite stingy defense, couldn’t hold off the potent Grizzlies offense forever as Grace Christian stormed back to win 50-40. The rematch at the Alaska Airlines Center started similarly, with Seward jumping out to an 8-1 lead, but quickly went the Grizzlies’ way. Grace dominated at the rim and consistently pushed the tempo with quick transition offense, overcoming the Seahawks 51-30.
Wednesday’s consolation semifinal against the Houston Hawks was close, but behind 15 points and 14 rebounds by senior guard Nick Ambrosiani, Seward advanced to the 4th/6th place game against Barrow with a 51-43.
Finally, the Seahawks fell to the Barrow Whalers 66-42 in a game marred by inconsistent officiating throughout and Barrow running up the score in the waning minutes after the final was clearly decided.
The Homer Girls backed into the State Tournament after losing to Kenai in the Peninsula Conference Tournament on Thursday, Mar. 7, then defeating the Kardinals in the 2nd/3rd place game on Saturday after Kenai lost the championship to Grace Christian the previous night. The Mariners came in as the #5 overall seed but never found their rhythm, falling in consecutive games to Mt. Edgecumbe and Sitka.
On Wednesday, Mount Edgecumbe, the 3A Eastern Conference champions, controlled the entire game against the Mariners and induced a running clock (40-point+ lead) early in the fourth quarter. Final score: 75-39.
Homer’s woes continued on Thursday when they were once again outpaced on both sides of the ball by the Sitka Wolves. Sitka’s full-court press forced one turnover after another as the Mariners were unable to come up with an offensive adjustment, eventually falling 60-32.
