by Greg Lincoln
Montel Waska #13 of the Kasigluk-Akula Tundra Foxes comforts Gordon Pitka of the Toksook Bay Islanders after their game. photo by Joe Yates
The Alaska Coastal Conference completed its first round of games this past Saturday and through the semifinals on Sunday. The tournament will continue to finish up on Monday. The winners of the event will represent the Alaska Coastal Conference at the State 1A Basketball Championships in Anchorage, March 12-15.
The Bethel Regional High School WarriorDome was packed to capacity on Friday and Saturday nights. There was a long line of fans waiting to get in to find a seat.
Eight boys and girls teams were stacked on their brackets. The top-seeded Kipnuk Falcon boys played the Newtok Jaegers, Kipnuk won 55-32. The next game was another boys game between the Kwethluk Kings and the Chefornak Shamans. The Shamans won in a close contest, 56-53 to advance to the semifinals.
The next two games were on the girls’ bracket. The Tuntutuliak Lady Bluejays defeated the Kasigluk-Akula Lady Tundra Foxes 49-44 in another close game. The next game featured another Akula team, the Lady Akiuk Grizzlies. They beat the Toksook Bay Lady Islanders 63-42.
On the boys’ bracket the Kasigluk-Akula Tundra Foxes won against the Eek Cougars, 82-55. The Toksook Bay Islanders also won, defeating the Kongiganak Wolverines 83-66.
The last two games of the night were on the girls’ bracket. The Chefornak Lady Shamans defeated their closest neighbors, the Kipnuk Lady Falcons 61-48. And for the last game of the night, the Napaskiak Lady Hawks won the game against the Quinhagak Seahawks, 74-44.
Fans from many different villages packed the WarriorDome to cheer for their favorite teams. Team mascots danced and fired up their fans and boosters while Emcee and announcer Palmer Bailey of KYKD Radio provided the team introductions and play by plays over the loudspeaker.
The Bethel Wrestlers worked the concessions stand so that no one got too hungry or thirsty during the games and local VPSOs kept everyone safe during the event. Volunteers provided livestream commentary via KYUK Radio for folks listening on the airwaves and online.
Sunday the games continued with the consolation bracket side of the tournament and then the semifinals in the afternoon. The line for admission to the 3:45pm semifinal game was already long, stretching throughout the hallways of Bethel Regional High School by 10:15am.
The first semifinal game was the Kasigluk-Akula Lady Foxes who defeated the Tuntutuliak Lady Bluejays 54-31. The Lady Foxes advanced to the championship game. The other girls semifinal game was between the Napaskiak Lady Hawks and the Chefornak Lady Shamans. The Lady Hawks won 57-42 and will play the Lady Foxes for the championship and a trip to the State Tournament.
On the boys’ side, the Kipnuk Falcons defeated their neighbors the Chefornak Shamans 67-50 to advance to the championship round. The Kasigluk Tundra Foxes also won, defeating the Toksook Bay Islanders in a close game, 58-53. The Tundra Foxes will play against the Kipnuk Falcons for first place on Monday.
Sports photos by Delta Discovery photographer Joe Yates and sports reels and videos can be viewed on the Delta Discovery social media pages online.
This tournament is played under the authority of the Alaska School Activities Association. We applaud fair play and sportsmanship between athletes and coaches. The Alaska Coastal Conference is known for its exemplary sportsmanship.
