The Kenai Kardinal girls and boys basketball teams, both runner-up in the Peninsula Conference Tournament, opened first round play at the ASAA 3A State Basketball Championships on Wednesday, March 22nd at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
The Kenai girls never got on track in a 53-27 loss to Monroe Catholic and the Kenai boys narrowly fell to Mt. Edgecumbe.
Monroe Girls 53 – Kenai Girls 27
The #2 seed Monroe Rams, champions of the Aurora Conference, rallied behind a stifling defense to defeat the #7 seed Kenai Kardinal girls 53-27 in the opening round of the 3A Girls State Basketball Championships.
Kenai was held to only four points in each of the first three quarters and trailed 43-12 into the final quarter. Emma Beck for Kenai was held to one field goal until the final eight minutes; Beck finished with 19 points on six field goals and 7 of 17 free throw shooting.
The Kardinal girls return to the Alaska Airlines Center on Thursday to face the Valdez Buccaneers in the noon game on the Main Court. A win and the Kardinals will continue play on Friday, March 24th in the 4th Place Game at 11 a.m..
Follow the Kardinal Girls at Noon on Thursday on ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and streaming live and free at radiokenai.com.
Mt. Edgecumbe Boys 43 – Kenai Boys 37
A late, first half run by the Braves and cold shooting in the third quarter by the Kardinals combined for a 43-37 victory for the Mt. Edgecumbe Braves over the Kenai boys in the first game of the 3A Boys State Basketball Championships on Wednesday morning.
The Kenai boys built an 18-11 advantage with 3:00 minutes remaining in the first half; however, a 7-0 run by the Braves tightened the game to 20-17 at the half. The third quarter proved disastrously for Kenai as the Kardinal boys managed only one field goal and one free throw for the entire quarter and trailed 27-23 into the final quarter. Kenai drew to within a basket, with the ball, but missed the go-ahead shot and were then forced to foul. Final Score: Mt. Edgecumbe 43 – Kenai 37.
The Kenai boys face the Delta Huskies on Thursday morning in the 10:30 a.m. contest. Delta fell to #1 Grace Christian 68-36.
A win and the Kardinals will continue play on Friday, March 24th in the 4th Place Game at 9:30 a.m..
Follow the Kardinal Boys at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday on ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and streaming live and free at radiokenai.com.
2023 ASAA/First National Bank 3A & 4A State Basketball Championships
First Round Game Results: 3A Girls
Monroe 53 – Kenai 27
Grace 56 – Bethel 27
Mt. Edgecumbe 49 – Valdez 34
Barrow 47 – Sitka 45
First Round Game Results: 3A Boys
Mt. Edgecumbe 43 – Kenai 37
Grace Christian 68 – Delta 36
Nome 65 – Barrow 50
Houston vs Valdez TBD
Thursday, March 23
10:30 a.m. Kenai Boys vs Mt. Edgecumbe ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and radiokenai.com
Noon Kenai Girls vs Monroe ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and radiokenai.com
