The showdown a season in the making lived up to the hype on Saturday at Nikiski.
The Nikiski girls basketball team, unbeaten against 3A competition and 8-0 in the Southcentral Conference, faced Anchorage Christian School, unbeaten against 3A teams and unbeaten in the SCC.
ACS held off Nikiski 62-56 with a late spurt in the fourth quarter.
ACS lead 17-4 after the first quarter; however, the Bulldogs rallied for 24 points in the second and pulled to within a point 29-28 at the half. ACS lead 42-41 after three quarters. The Bulldogs lead 51-50 with 4:15 remaining, when leading scorer Bethany Carstens fouled-out. ACS pulled away and held-on late for a 62-56 SCC victory.
The Bulldogs will again face ACS next Friday at Anchorage Christian School in the final weekend of the regular season.
The Nikiski boys fell 59-37 to the Lions.
Friday Game Results
Nikiski Girls 40 – Grace 36
The Nikiski girls defeated Grace Christian on Friday 40-36, building a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter and holding on for the victory. Grace has twice pushed Nikiski to the brink in conference play. Bethany Carstens lead the Bulldogs with 21 points; however, fouled-out in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies made a 9-0 run to draw to within three in the final minute.
Nikiski Boy 44 – Grace 67
The Grace boys jumped-out to a 21-4 lead in the first quarter and cruised to a 67-44 SCC victory. Grace improves to 9-0 in conference play.
Friday Non-Conference Game Results
West Girls 52 – Kenai 28
SoHi Boys 50 – North Pole 34
