The Nikiski girls earned the team championship at the 2020 Russ Hitchcock Nikiski Tip-Off Basketball Tournament sweeping the three days of competition at Nikiski High School. In Northern Lights Conference basketball, the Soldotna Stars defeated Kodiak-home and away.
2020 Russ Hitchcock Nikiski Tip-Off Basketball Tournament
Saturday Results
Nikiski Girls 49 – Dimond JV 9
The Nikiski Bulldog overpowered the Dimond JV girls 49-9 to win the Russ Hitchcock Nikiski Tip-Off Basketball Tournament. Nikiski opened a 19-2 lead in the first quarter and lead 31-4 at the half. The Bulldogs allowed three field goals and three freethrows to the Lynx.
Lillian Carstens lead the Bulldogs with 16 points and America Jefferys added 10 points. Carsten was named tournament MVP; Kaitlyn Johnson and Kaycee Bostic were selected to the all-tournament team.
Girls All-Tournament Team: Lillian Carstens, Nikiski; Kaitlyn Johnson, Nikiski; Kaycee Bostic, Nikiski, Katie Richey, Houston; Jana Domingono, Service; Cadie Stoddard, Service
West JV Boys 59 – Nikiski Boys 35
The West JV boys closed-out tournament play with a 59-35 victory over Nikiski. West finished 3-0 in tournament play.
Nikiski’s Noah Litke was awarded tournament MVP.
Boys All-Tournament Team: Noah Litke, Nikiski; Mark Maraviles, West; Kyle McLaughlin, Houston; Junus McGraw, West; Chris Fuller, South; Luke Ivanoff, South
Northern Lights Conference: SoHi vs Kodiak
SoHi Girls 63 – Kodiak 28
SoHi overwhelmed Kodiak 63-28 in Kodiak on Saturday improving the Lady Stars Northern Lights Conference record to 2-0 and season record to 11-0.
SoHi Boys 33 – Kodiak 32
The Stars held-off Kodiak in a low-scoring 33-32 Northern Lights Conference contest at SoHi on Saturday.
SoHi and Kodiak were tied at 29-29 with :52 seconds remaining when Zach Hanson hit Tyler Morrison for a back-door layup and a 31-29 lead. Sam Galindo hit a three-pointer to give Kodiak a 32-31 lead. Then SoHi answered with another Tyler Morrison basket for a 33-32 advantage with :12 seconds remaining. Kodiak’s final three-point attempt was short and the Stars hold-on for the 33-32 victory.
