The opening weekend of high school basketball features three invitational tournaments including the Kenai River Challenge Girls Tournament at KCHS, the SoHi Tip-off Boys Basketball Tournament at SoHi, and the CIA Classic at Cook Inlet Academy.
Kenai River Challenge
The Nikiski Bulldogs allowed only 47 points in three tournament victories and claim the 2016 Kenai River Challenge girls basketball tournament title on a three-way tie-breaker.
Nikiski, SoHi and Kenai finished tournament play with 3-0 records in the round-robin format tournament. The tie-breaker was fewest points allowed; and the Bulldogs defense dominated throughout the three days of competition.
Nikiski downed Homer 52-12 on Saturday, holding the Mariners scoreless in the second quarter and allowing only four, first half points.
SoHi finished 3-0 with a Saturday 43-32 victory over Thunder Mountain.
Kenai finished 3-0 recording a Saturday win over Eagle River 43-32.
Saturday game results:
Nikiski 52 – Homer 12
Soldotna 43 – Thunder Mountain 32
Kenai 43 – Eagle River 32
Kenai River Challenge: All-Tournament Team
Nikiski: Bethany Carstens, MVP; Avery Kornstad
SoHi: Danica Schmidt, Aliann Schmidt, Brittani Blossom
KCHS: Lara Creighton, Brook Satathite, Jaycie Calvert
Eagle River: Chyna Finley
Thunder Mt.: Nina Fenumiai
SoHi Boys Tip-Off Tournament
The Dimond Lynx scored 72 in a 72-28 victory over Ninilchik in the championship game of the SoHi Tip-off Boys Tournament at Soldotna High School. Dimond averaged 81 point per game for the three game tournament.
SoHi finished third with a 63-34 win over Mt. Edgecumbe. Eagle River held-off KCHS 51-49 for 4th, Homer downed Nikiski in the 7th-8th place game.
Saturday game results:
Homer 54 – Nikiski 44
Kenai 49 – Eagle River 51
SoHi 63 – Mt. Edgecumbe 34
Ninilchik 28 – Dimond 72
SoHi Tip-Off Tournament: All-Tournament Team
Erik Jenkens- MVP Dimond
Palu Bioff-Mt. Edgecumbe
Anthony Parker- Dimond
Kylan Osborn- Dimond
Josh Jackman-Kenai
Luke Beiser- Kenai
Austin White- Ninilchik
Derek Evans- SoHi
Kota Ainuu- Dimond
CIA Classic Basketball Tournament
The SoHi JV boys and the Nikolaevsk girls finished three days of competition unbeaten at the CIA Classic at Cook Inlet Academy.
Saturday game results:
Ninilchik 27 – Nikolaevsk girls 30
Kodiak ESSS 41 – Nikolaevsk boys 73
SoHi JV 38 – Nikiski JV girls 32
CIA 38 – SoHi JV boys 62
CIA Classic: All-Tournament Team
Boys Girls
Jersey Truesdell Rachel Spence
Noah Leaf Kristin Klaich
Nikit Fefelov Kiana Holland
Tyler Morrison Angela Druesow
Zach Hanson Jada Glaves
Gunner Nelson Kaitlyn Johnson
Kalenik Molodih Olivia Delgado
Chris Phillips Vera Fefelov
Levi Rosin Markiana Yakunin
Brady Hammond Deeann White
