Champions were crowned in the 3A and 4A divisions of high school basketball on Saturday, as March Madness Alaska closed-out eight days of competition with a championship final night at the Sullivan Arena.
3A Girls Tournament Results: Nikiski Bulldogs
A only central peninsula team advancing to Saturday, the Nikiski Bulldog girls, opened the day with a decisive 37-33 victory over the Anchorage Christian School Lions in the 4th Place contest in 3A basketball. The Bulldog girls were lead by senior Rachel Thompson with 19 points. The Bulldogs finished the tournament with a 2-1 record.
Rachel Thompson was named to the 3A All-Tournament Team. Chena Litzen, the only other senior for the Bulldogs, had an outstanding tournament leading the Bulldogs throughout the tournament.
Rachel Thompson topped-off her tournament experience by winning the Alaska Airlines “Queen of the Court” three-point shootout during the halftime of the 4A boys championship game.
Championship Finals
3A Girls Championship Game: The Sitka Wolves defeated the Valdez Buccaneers 53-50
3A Boys Championship Game: The #1 Barrow Whalers defeated three-time champion Monroe 50-40
4A Girls Championship Game: Dimond Lynx defeated #1 seed West Valley 54-49 (congratulations to Dimond coach James Young from KCHS)
4A Boys Championship Game: West Anchorage defeated East Anchorage in overtime 77-73
3A Girls Basketball: Friday Game Results
Nikiski Girls 37 – Bethel 22
The Bulldog girls dominated the second and third quarters enroute to a 37-22 consolation round victory. Nikiski held Bethel without a point for over eleven minutes, scoreless in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs advance to the 4th Place Game on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Arena.
Game time is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
3A Girls Basketball: Opening Round
Nikiski Girls 33 – Valdez 47
The Bulldogs opened with a pairing against a familiar foe in the Valdez Buccaneers. Nikiski and Valdez were paired in the first round by a seeding formula, the WPI, which stands for winning percentage index. Nikiski and Valdez were ranked 4th and 5th and paired in the top of the bracket with #1 Barrow and #8 Bethel.
The Nikiski girls trailed 24-16 at the half and trailed by 15 after three quarters. Turnovers were the deciding facture with Nikiski committing over 20 turnovers in the game.
The Bulldogs now will face Bethel in the consolation round. The Nikiski- Bethel game will be at 11:20 a.m., Friday at the Sullivan Arena. Follow the Bulldogs on ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
The Bethel Warriors, the #8 seed, nearly pulled-off the tournament’s biggest upset by taking Barrow to overtime before the Whalers rallied in the extra period for a 40-31 victory.
1A Girls & Boys Basketball Tournament Results
The Cook Inlet Academy girls, the Nikolaevsk girls ( Peninsula Conference Champions) and the Nikolaevsk boys represented the central peninsula in the 1A division.
1A Championship Results
Seldovia Boys 62 – Scammon Bay 34. Seldovia wins 1A State Championship
Nikolaevsk Girls 59 – Newhalen 33 Nikolaevsk girls finshed 4th
Nikolaevsk Boys 66 – Manokotak 60 Nikolaevsk boys finshed 4th
Tuesday Results & Wednesday Schedule
Nikolaevsk Girls 42 – Shishmarif 39 Warriors play at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday
Nikolaevsk Boys 60 – Elim 51 Warriors play at 11:10 a.m. Wednesday
Both team will play in the 4th consolation final.
Monday Results & Tuesday Schedule
CIA Girls 36 – Minto 40 Cook Inlet girls eliminated
Nikolaevsk Girls 37 – Selavik 41
Nikolaevsk Boys 43 – Angoon 54
Saturday Schedule & Results
CIA girls 43 – Wainwright 44 Overtime
Cook Inlet Academy girls fall to Wainwright in overtime in the first round of the 1A girls state basketball tournament. The CIA girls trailed by 11 in the third quarter before mounting a late rally. CIA took the lead in the final minute; however, allowed a field goal to tie the game in regulation. In overtime, the Eagles again hold a late lead only to allow a late basket for the Wainwright victory. In the game, CIA made only 7 of 23 from the free throw line, leaving valuable points on the floor.
CIA will play Minto on Monday, March 16th at 8:00 a.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center Auxillary Gym.
Nikolaevsk Girls defeated Akiak 51 -21 on Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center Auxillary Gym. The Warrior girls will play Selawik on Monday, March 16th at 5:10 p.m. at the Sullivan Arena.
Nikolaevsk Boys defeated Akiak 50-33 on Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center Auxillary Gym. The Warrior boys face Angoon on Monday, March 16th at 8:30 p.m. at the Sullivan Arena.
The 1A championship games will be Wednesday, March 18th at the Alaska Airlines Center.
All CIA and Nikolaevsk games are broadcast on ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
3A Girls & Boys Basketball
The Nikiski girls will open play in the 3A division on Thursday, March 19th. The Bulldogs open against Valdez at 1:00 p.m. at the Sullivan Arena on Court 2.
The 3A and 4A championship games will be Saturday, March 21st at the Sullivan Arena.
Link to ASAA360 & March Madness Alaska schedules and brackets: Click Here