by Greg Lincoln

Jonelle Smith #2 of the Tuntutuliak Lady Bluejays drives in past Newtok’s Jojean George #12 during their game on Saturday. photo by Greg Lincoln
The Alaska Coastal 1A basketball tournament began this past weekend on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 and will run through Monday, March 4th in Bethel, Alaska. All games are played at the Bethel Regional High School gym, home of the Warriors under the authority of the Alaska Schools Activities Association (ASAA).
Opening day saw 8 games total with the gym filled to capacity. Fans from all over the YK delta region came to cheer on their teams. To see sports reels and photos from the event, please check out our Delta Discovery facebook page. The first day’s games results are as follows:
1A Alaska Coastal Conference Day 1 Games
Game 1 (girls): Kwethluk 49, Toksook Bay 27
Game 2 (girls): Tuntutuliak 71, Newtok 44
Game 3 (boys): Kipnuk 64, Kwethluk 59
Game 4 (boys): Chefornak 58, KUK-Akula 56
Game 5 (girls): Napaskiak 51, Kongiganak 48
Game 6 (girls): Chefornak 33, KUK-Akiuk 30
Game 7 (boys): Toksook 78, Eek 64
Game 8 (boys): Tuntutuliak 64, KUK-Akiuk 44
1A Alaska Coastal Conference Day 2 Games
Consolation Bracket
Game 1 (boys): Kwethluk 65, Akula 61
Game 2 (girls): Newtok 36, Toksook 33
Game 3 (boys): Eek 69, Akiuk 68
Game 4 (girls): Kongiganak 57 – KUK-Akiuk 45
Semi-finals
Game 5 (boys): Kipnuk 49, Chefornak 38
Game 6 (girls): Tunt 45, Kwethluk 44
Game 7 (boys): Tunt 61, Toksook 57
Game 8 (girls): Napaskiak 45, Chefornak 43
***
As you can see, most of the games on Day 2 were all close nailbiters!
The championship games and games for 3rd and 4th place will take place on Monday, March 4th, 2024. On the girls bracket the Tuntutuliak Lady Bluejays will be playing the Napaskiak Lady Hawks. On the boys side it will be the Tuntutuliak Bluejays and the Kipnuk Falcons. The games for 3rd and 4th place will be Kwethluk vs. Chefornak for the girls and for the boys it will be Chefornak vs. Toksook Bay. The final results will be posted in next week’s edition.
Thank you to the Lower Kuskokwim School District for the livestreaming and for the commentary and post game interviews, thanks to tournament organizers, and to all the teams that are playing for your good sportsmanship and for your hard work.