With two Player of the Year awards and one Coach of the Year award, the Kenai Peninsula is well-represented on the 2018 Knight’s Taxidermy/Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Teams.
A statewide selection committee determined All-State teams in four classifications of high school basketball for the state of Alaska. Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and First, Second and Third Team selections were made in all divisions. In the 1A basketball classification, four levels were awarded based on the large number of teams in the 1A division; 113 teams in 10 conferences make up the 1A division of high school basketball.
DeeAnn White of Ninilchik earns the 1A Girls AABC Player of the Year award. DeeAnn lead the Ninilchik Wolverine girls to the best regular season record in the Peninsula Conference and to a Consolation Championship at the 1A Girls State Basketball Championships; the Wolverines winning three-straight tournament games. DeeAnn was named to the 1A Girls All-Tournament Team.
Bethany Carstens of Nikiski High School tops the field in the 3A Girls division, named 3A Player of the Year by the AABC selection committee. Bethany lead the Bulldog girls to a second place finish at the Southcentral Conference Tournament and a berth to the upcoming ASAA 3A Girls Basketball State Championships. Bethany averaged 20 points per game in the regular season and scored her 1000th career point in the Bulldogs next-to-last conference game. Bethany was named Southcentral Conference MVP based on her regular season performance.
Scott Anderson of Nikiski was selected by his peers as the 3A Girls Basketball Coach of the Year by the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches. Anderson’s Bulldogs enter the 3A state tournament as the #5 seed (based on WPI). Anderson lead Nikiski to 17 conference victories in the regular season (only losses were to undefeated ACS) and to divisional wins over Sitka (state #2 seed) and Barrow (state #4 seed).
The Bulldog girls open play at the ASAA 3A Girls State Championships on Thursday, March 22nd against Barrow in the tournament’s first round. The game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. and coverage will be available on ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com.
Knight’s Taxidermy/Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Teams
1A Girls
Player of the Year: DeeAnn White, Ninilchik.
Coach of the Year: Herschel Sundown, Scammon Bay.
First Team: DeeAnn White, Ninilchik; Jenysa Ahmaogak, Alak (Wainwright); Shauna Koonuk, Aniak; Lindsay Weyanna, Isabell (Teller); Almira Kaganak, Scammon Bay.
Second Team: MacKenzie Andrew, Napakiak; Olivia Juhl, Tri Valley; Shea Matthies, Stebbins; Anikan Paniptchuk, Shaktoolik; Nyadeng Puoy, Lumen Christi.
Third Team: Hayley Akerelrea, Scammon Bay; Olivia Delgado, Ninilchik; Miranda Demientieff, Akiak; Kristin Klaich, Nikolaevsk; Jada Peterson, St. Mary’s.
Fourth Team: Josephine Chakuchin, Toksook Bay; Alison Homekingkeo, Koyuk; Taya Marvin, Klawock; Maya Page, Noatak; Sarah Stenek, Shishmaref.
1A Boys
Player of Year: Lance Folger, Tanana.
Coach of the Year: Raymond Hyslop, Tanana.
First Team: Lance Folger, Tanana; Michael Balos, Birchwood; Jeremy Brink, Scammon Bay; Edward Kokeok, Shishmaref; Jared Topkok, Isabell (Teller).
Second Team: Michael Alyunerak, Alakanuk; Eric Daniels Jr, Elim; Elijah Kulowiyi, Savoonga; Kalenik Molodih, Nikolaevsk; Robert Sheldon, Noatak.
Third Team: Jacob Ahgook, Nunamiut; Braden Dallman, Aniak; Gary Gould, King Cove; Jeremiah Iyatunguk, Shishmaref; Mykell White, Nelson Island.
Fourth Team: Andrew Bennett, Lumen Christi; Jackson Charlie, Scammon Bay; Trevor Savetilik, Shaktoolik; Peter Swanberg, Birchwood; Nathan Yockey, Klawock.
2A Girls
Player of the Year: Sharon Hansen, Bristol Bay.
Coach of the Year: Collin Stone, Nenana.
First Team: Sharon Hansen, Bristol Bay; Drena Hayward, Metlakatla; Gloria Jacobsen, Glennallen; Jordyn Lane, Point Hope; Melissa Nickoli, Nenana.
Second Team: Abby Bourgeois, Cordova; Kaylyn Easterly, Wrangell; Alexis Russell, Metlakatla; Aquinnah Tremblay, Nenana; Kayla Villamor, Unalaska.
Third Team: Denali Moorcraft, Bristol Bay; Kendra Kapotak, Dillingham; Hailey Wilson, Unalaska; Jewel Wilson, Unalakleet; Sarah Yates, Craig.
2A Boys
Player of the Year: Trevor Wilson, Unalaska.
Coach of the Year: Jonathan Alsup, Tok.
First Team: Trevor Wilson, Unalaska; Aidan Fields, Glennallen; Danny Marsden, Metlakatla; Dennis Mitchell, Tok; Arctic Ivanoff, Unalakleet.
Second Team: Aiden Ivanoff, Unalakleet; Andrew Marker, Craig; Cody Morgan, Susitna Valley; Cody Sjostedt, Cordova; Dylan Swinton, Haines.
Third Team: Christian Adams, Cordova; Revyn Almquist, Tok; Matt Fasau, Unalaska; Shawn Frank, Tok; Christian Hayward, Metlakatla.
3A Girls
Player of the Year: Bethany Carstens, Nikiski.
Coach of the Year: Scott Anderson, Nikiski.
First Team: Bethany Carstens, Nikiski; Tatum Bayne, Sitka; Kuutuuq Danner, Barrow; Bobbi Mott, Valdez; Destiny Reimers, ACS.
Second Team: Alanna Conwell, Kotzebue; Pearl Green, Galena; Jordan Todd, ACS; Courtney Williams, Bethel; Milya Wright, Barrow.
Third Team: Chaunice Carr, ACS; Katie Crow, Bethel; Abby Forrester, Sitka; Sydney Johnson, Valdez; Mary Kate Parks, ACS.
3A Boys
Player of the Year: Tobin Karlberg, Grace Christian.
Coach of the Year: Todd Wegner, Valdez.
First Team: Tobin Karlberg, Grace Christian; Travis Adams, Barrow; Micah Helkenn, Delta; Bennett Hinkle, Valdez; Gavin Jackson, Monroe.
Second Team: Jamal Alstrom, Mt. Edgecumbe; Clevon Constantine, Bethel; Devin Davis, Monroe; Izak Lohrke, Monroe; Orlando Lozano, Anchorage Christian.
Third Team: Jeremiah Brown, Eielson; Danilo Guzman, Anchorage Christian; Logan Heckathorn, Valdez; Jace Kornstad, Nikiski; Jimmy McGovern, Grace Christian.
4A Girls
Player of the Year: Alissa Pili, Dimond
Coach of the Year: Laura Ingham, East Anchorage
First Team — Alissa Pili, Dimond; Azlynn Brandenburrg, Wasilla; Olivia Davies, Wasilla; Jahnna Hajdukovich, Dimond; Azaria Robinson, East Anchorage.
Second Team — Alex Carlton, Colony; Chasity Horn, Chugiak; Skye Miller, East Anchorage; Angeline Nageak, Dimond; Sierra Tate, West Valley.
Third Team — Tyra Do, Lathrop; Daisy Page, East Anchorage; Ellen Silva, West Valley; Brittany Slick, Ketchikan; Amanda Smith, Colony.
4A Boys
Player of the Year: Erik Kelly, Juneau-Douglas.
Coach of the Year: Brad Lauwers, Dimond.
First Team: Erik Kelly, Juneau; Reilly Devine, Wasilla; Nicolas Horning, Dimond; Marcus Lee, Ketchikan; Clayton Southwick, Palmer.
Second Team: Will Freeman, Colony; Daniel Headdings, Wasilla; Sullivan Menard, Colony; Devon Mong, West Anchorage; Luka Wal, West Anchorage.
Third Team: Joey Barranco, East Anchorage; Chris Lee, Ketchikan; Cornelius Mingo Jr, West Valley; Carter Moore, Dimond; Derryk Snell, Chugiak.
Bethany Carsten photo courtesy of www.asaa365.com
