Islanders, Seahawks roll in Alaska Coastal play

by Tommy Wells

The Toksook Bay Islanders and the Kipnuk Falcons both turned in solid outings this past weekend in Alaska Coastal Conference basketball action. Both teams moved closer to securing top seeds at the upcoming conference tournament.

Toksook Bay, which leads to the Island League race, ran its season record to 8-0 with a pair of close wins. The Islander boys kicked off their weekend with a 72-70 victory over the Chefornak Shaman on Friday. They finished off the weekend twinbill with a 67-66 thriller over Chefornak on Saturday.

Quinhagak kept its hopes of winning the Mid Coast League title alive this weekend. The Seahawks claimed a close 72-71 victory over Eek on Friday. On Saturday, they nailed down a 67-48 win over Kwigillingok and a 76-62 romp over Tuntutuliak.

Quinhagak, 5-2 overall, trails Kipnuk by one-half game in the Mid Coast League race. Kipnuk boys beat Kwig boys during the Midcoast League tournament championship 65-34.

Coming in 3rd was Quinhagak. In 4th was Tuntutuliak.

Napaskiak and Nunapitchuk are also vying for top honors in the Kusko Delta League. Heading into this week’s action, Napaskiak is 11-3 and holds a one-game lead over Nunapitchuk for the league’s top spot.

Nunapitchuk is 11-4 overall.

In girls’ action, the Scammon Bay Lady Eagles solidified their stranglehold on the Yukon-Delta Conference lead with a stellar outing in St. Mary’s. The Lady Eagles defeated second-rank Aniak by an 86-52 mark on Friday, and then closed out the weekend with wins of 63-43 and 74-46 over St. Mary’s.

Now 18-2 for the year, Scammon Bay is 9-0- in Y-K Delta action.

The Alaska Coastal Conference tournament will be held on March 1-3 in Bethel.