The opening pairings for the high school basketball regular season for Kenai Peninsula 3A and 4A teams produced an air of excitement as teams played with a re-newed excitement.
The Kenai Kardinal boys pulled-out a 55-52 overtime victory over SoHi; the Star girls overpowered Kenai 68-16; the Nikiski girls held-off the Homer Mariners 36-33 and the Homer boys pulled-out a 55-31.
Kenai Boys 55 – SoHi Boys 52
The Kards and Stars battle evenly throughout Thursday’s opener with the teams tied 19-19 at the half and Kenai holding a 31-30 lead after three quarters. The fourth quarter featured numerous lead changes leading to a wild final minute and a half. Kenai’s Jacob Kvasnikoff drilled a three-point basket to give Kenai the lead with 1:22 remaining. SoHi retook the lead with :15 seconds remaining on an Ethan Sewell 3-pointer for a 47-45 SoHi advantage. Kenai’s Maison Dunham hit from the baseline at the buzzer to tie the game at 47-47.
In the overtime, Kenai scored the first five points and held off a final attack from the Stars for the 55-52 Kardinal victory. Lucas Tunseth lead Kenai with a 19-point effort; SoHi’s Ethan Sewell topped all scorers with 20 points.
SoHi Girls 68 – Kenai 16
The Soldotna girls broke-out from a slow first quarter to overpower Kenai 68-16, using pressure defense and an offensive attack with featured three players in double-digits. SoHi lead 29-5 at the half and 55-9 after three quarters. Rhys Cannava and Morgan Bouschor each scored 18 points for the Stars; Kenai’s Emma Beck and Logan Satathite each scored seven points for the Kardinals.
Nikiski girls 36 – Homer 33
The Nikiski girls built a 26-14 lead at the half and held-off a late Mariner charge for the 36-33 win. Lillian Carstens lead the Bulldogs with 19 points; Kinlee Jeffreys added 11.
Homer Boys 55 – Nikiski 31
The Bulldog boys fell behind 23-15 at the half and never threaten the Mariners lead. Austin Stafford scored 12 points and Brady Bostic added 11 points for Nikiski. Homer’s Parker Lowney lead all scorers with 13 points.
Saturday Basketball Schedule
Kenai vs Nikiski @ KCHS 3 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. KSRM 920AM and radiokenai.com
SoHi @ Seward 2 & 3:30 p.m. KKIS 96.5 FM and radiokenai.com
