The Southcentral Conference and Northern Lights Conference basketball tournaments move to Friday winner’s bracket and consolation rounds with Kenai and Nikiski at the SCC tournament in Seward and the Soldotna Stars hosting the NLC basketball tournament at SoHi.
Southcentral Conference Basketball Championships
The first round of SCC tournament play on Thursday featured wins for all eight of the higher seed teams, setting up a Friday game schedule with four consolation games and four winner’s -bracket games.
Friday Game Schedule and Game Results
Homer Girls 41 – Houston 40
…Homer girls win on freethrow in final seconds.
Nikiski Boys 65 – Redington 38
…After a slow 7-3 first quarter, the Bulldog boys scored 20,18 and 20 in the next three quarters for a 65-38 victory over Redington. Jace Kornstad lead the Bulldogs with 24 points and Cody Handley added 13 points. Nikiski plays in the 4th-Place Game on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Redington Girls 49 – Seward 33
Homer Boys 57 – Houston 32
Nikiski Girls 60 – Grace 47
…Bulldog girls rally from five-point deficit in first quarter to pull away from Grace for a 60-47 victory. Nikiski scored in double figures in each quarter. Bethany Carstens lead the Bulldogs with 26 points. Nikiski advances to the championship game at 3:45 p.m. On Saturday and the Buldogs secure a berth to the 3A state basketball championships.
Grace Boys 55 – Kenai Boys 41
The Kardinals boy twice battled from double-figure deficits; however, Kenai falls 55-41 to Grace Christian. Grace’s Turner Goforth scored 15 in the second quarter to stake Grace to a 30-17 lead at the half. Grace advances to the boys championship game and earns a 3A state tournament berth. The Kardinals boys will play in the 3rd Place game at 1:45 p.m. On Saturday.
ACS Girls 63 – Kenai Girls 23
ACS overpowered Kenai posting 44 in the first half in a 63-23 victory over the Kardinals. The Kardinals trailed 19-3 after one quarter. ACS advances to the SCC championship game on Saturday and earns a berth to the 3A girls state basketball championships. The Kardinals play Grace Christian in the 3rd Place game at noon Saturday.
9:00 p.m. ACS Boys vs Seward
Saturday Game Schedule: Southcentral Conference
10 a.m. Nikiski Boys vs Winner of Homer vs Houston ESPN 1140 AM and www.radiokenai.com
Noon Girls 3rd Place Game
1:45 p.m. Boys 3rd Place Game
3:45 p.m. Girls Championship Game: ACS vs Nikiski
5:30 p.m. Boys Championship Game: ACS vs Grace
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Northern Lights Conference Championships
Following the #4 vs $5 pairings on Thursday at SoHi, the Friday schedule is set for the Northern Lights Conference basketball tournament. The #1 seeds Soldotna Girls and Colony Boys know their opponents, in each case Palmer advances with wins over Kodiak.
Friday Tournament Pairings
Palmer Boys 58 – Colony Boys 55
Palmer upsets the #1 seed Colony 58-55. Palmer advances to the boys championship game and the Moose earn a berth to the 4A boys state tournament.
Wasilla Girls 49 – Colony 47
Wasilla, held off Colony 49-47 in the semi-final NLC girls contest on Friday. The Warriors earn a 4A state tournament berth and will play host Soldotna in the NLC championship game on Saturday at 6 p.m.
SoHi Boys 43 – Wasilla 41
The SoHi boys trailed 23-17 at the half and took the lead at 36-33 early in the fourth quarter. Tied at 41-41 with 3 seconds remaining, SoHi’ s Brock Kant scored the game-winner on a layup. SoHi boys advance to the NLC boys championship game against Palmer on Saturday at 4 p.m. SoHi earns a 4A state tournament spot with the victory.
SoHi Girls 62 – Palmer 22
The Star girls built a 29-10 lead at the hlaf and extend to 52-16 after three quarters en route to a 62-22 win in Friday’s semi-final. The Stars earn a berth to the 4A girls state basketball tournament and advance to the NLC championship game on Saturday at SoHi at 6 p.m.
Saturday Tournament Schedule: Games involving SoHi will be broadcast on KSRM 920AM
9:00 a.m. Boys Double-Back Game
10:45 a.m. Girls Double-Back Game
12:30 p.m. Boys 3rd Place Game*
2:15 p.m. Girls 3rd Place Game*
4:00 p.m. Boys Championship Game: SoHi vs Palmer
6:00 p.m. Girls Championship Game: SoHi vs Wasilla
* 3rd & 4th Place teams qualify for at-large berth to the ASAA 4A basketball state tournament.
