The 2020 Russ Hitchcock Nikiski Tip-Off Basketball Tournament opened three days of competition at Nikiski High School with first round games on Thursday and the Kenai boys fell to Kodiak in non-conference play. Other high school basketball pairings for the weekend include the Kenai girls and boys traveling to Seward on Friday and the SoHi boys in Kodiak while the Star girls host the Bears at SoHi.
Nikiski Tip-Off Basketball Tournament
First Round Results: Thursday
Nikiski Girls 41 – Houston 29
Tika Zimmerman lead the Bulldogs with a 14-point effort in the first-round Nikiski victory over the Houston Hawks 41-29. Nikiski lead 19-16 at the half and by two 26-24 after three quarters. The Bulldogs held the Hawks to a single field goal and 3 of 7 freethrows in the fourth quarter.
Houston Boys 56 – Nikiski 46
The Nikiski Boys battled from behind throughout the 56-46 loss to the Hawks; eventually falling victim to a 9-0 run early in the third quarter. Houston lead 32-26 at the half, after leading by 11 points in the second quarter. The Bulldogs tied the game at 32-32; however, that would prove to be the closest Nikiski would come to a victory. For the game Noah Litke lead Nikiski with a 21-point night; Kyle McLaughlin topped the Hawks with 15 points as Houston had four players in double-figures.
Dimond JV girls 27 – Service girls 60
West JV boys 71 – South JV boys 40
Friday, January 17
BB: Nikiski Tip-Off Tournament
…2:45 p.m. Dimond JV girls vs Houston girls
…4:15 p.m. West JV boys vs Houston boys
…5:45 p.m. Nikiski G vs Service ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
…7:15 p.m. Nikiski B vs South JV ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
Saturday, January 18
BB: Nikiski Tip-Off Tournament
…Noon Houston girls vs Service girls
..1:30 p.m. Houston boys vs South JV boys
.…3:00 p.m. Nikiski G vs Dimond JV ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
.…4:30 p.m. Nikiski B vs West JV ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com
Kenai Basketball: Kenai 42 – Kodiak 64
In non-conference basketball at KCHS on Thursday, Kodiak overpowered Kenai in the second half for a 64-42 Bears victory. Kenai lead 11-8 in the first quarter and trailed by six at the half 26-20. Kodiak outscored the Kardinals 38 to 22 in the second half. Evan Stockton lead Kenai with 12 points; Kodiak’s Sam Galindo topped the Bears with 18 points. The Kardinal girls and boys travel to Seward on Friday for Southcentral Conference games against the Seahawks.
Friday, January 17: Kenai @ Seward Girls 6 p.m. Boys 7:30 p.m. KSRM 920AM and streamed at www.radiokenai.com
SoHi Basketball Schedule
Friday, January 17: SoHi Boys vs Kodiak @ SoHi 6 p.m. SoHi Girls @ Kodiak 7 p.m. KKIS 96.5 FM and streamed at www.radiokenai.com
Saturday, January 18: SoHi Girls @ Kodiak 11:30 a.m. SoHi Boys vs Kodiak @ SoHi 1 p.m. KKIS 96.5 FM and streamed at www.radiokenai.com