The Southcentral Conference Basketball Championships and the Northern Lights Conference Basketball Championships closed-out play on Saturday with championships decided, automatic state berths earned and possible at-large qualifiers determined.
Southcentral Conference Championships
Girls Champion: Anchorage Christian School
ACS 67 – Nikiski 52
The ACS Lions remain undefeated with a 67-52 victory over the Nikiski Bulldogs in the SCC girls championship game on Saturday at Seward High School. ACS opened with a 21-8 lead after one quarter. Nikiski trailed 33-26 at the half and closed to within three at 51-48 after three quarters. The Lions held the Bulldogs to a single field goal and a pair of freethrows in the final quarter to pull-away for the conference crown and a top seed at the upcoming 3A basketball state tournament. Destiny Reimer, Conference MVP, lead the Lions with 24 points; Bethany Carstens scored 12 for the Bulldogs.
ACS and Nikiski automatically qualify to the ASAA 3A State Basketball Championships. The Kenai Kardinal girls, with a third place finish, will be in the pool for a single at-large berth to state–to be announced on Sunday.
Boys Champion: Anchorage Christian School
ACS 62 – Grace 46
ACS and Grace automatically qualify to the ASAA 3A State Basketball Championships. The Kenai Kardinal boys, with a third place finish, will be in the pool for a single at-large berth to state–to be announced on Sunday.
Northern Lights Conference Championships
Girls Champion: Wasilla Warriors
Wasilla 57 – Soldotna Stars 39
The #1 seed SoHi girls, undefeated against NLC opponents, fell to the perennial NLC champion Wasilla Warriors 57-39 in the girls championship game at Soldotna High School on Saturday.
The SoHi girls jumped out to an early 8-2 lead on six, quick points for Brittani Blossom. The Warriors mounted a 35-11 run for a 37-21 lead at the half. Wasilla lead by as many as 20 points in the second half; the Stars closed to within nine points early in the fourth quarter.
Final score: Wasilla 57, SoHi 39.
Harmony McSorley lead the Warriors with 20 points; Aliann Schmidt and Itu Tuisaula each scored 12 for SoHi. Wasilla and SoHi earn automatic berths to the ASAA State Basketball Championships. The Colony Knights with a third-place finish qualify for an at-large berth to state–to be announced on Sunday.
Boys Champion: Palmer Moose
Palmer 62 – Soldotna Stars 58
The Palmer boys held-off a late SoHi charge for a 62-58 championship game victory over the Soldotna Stars. The Moose entered the tournament as the #5 seed (out of five) with a 1-7 conference record. Palmer defeated Colony on Friday to advance to the championship contest.
The Moose started quickly leading 16-7 after one quarter and held a 31-28 advantage at the half. SoHi trailed 45-43 after three quarters and Palmer held on for the victory and the boys championship.
Final Score: Palmer 62, SoHi 58
Ronny Marshall scored 20 points for Palmer: SoHi’s Jersey Truesdell topped the Stars with 24 points. Palmer and SoHi earn automatic berths to the ASAA State Basketball Championships. The Colony Knights with a third-place finish qualify for an at-large berth to state–to be announced on Sunday.
March Madness Selection Show
The 2019 ASAA March Madness Alaska Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, March 10th at 7 p.m. State qualifiers and brackets for all four divisions 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A will be announced.
