Joey Klecka

CIA, Nikolaevsk girls to meet in consolation final

The Nikolaevsk and Cook Inlet Academy girls hoops teams will face each other for a Class 1A championship for the second year in a row… Continue reading

Seldovia boys lose; Nikolaevsk boys win

The magic run the Seldovia boys were on at the Class 1A state hoops tournament came to an end Tuesday at the Sullivan Arena in… Continue reading

Seldovia boys storm into state semis

The Seldovia boys took their game — and their school — to a rare level Monday at the Class 1A state basketball tournament at the… Continue reading

Nikolaevsk girls bounce back at state

By JOEY KLECKA Peninsula ClarionSometimes, after a stressful situation, it’s best to take a breather to take your mind off the ordeal. Luckily for the… Continue reading

Nikolaevsk boys stay alive in consolation bracket

Nikolaevsk boys 60, Noatak 52The Warriors staved off elimination in the Class 1A consolation bracket Monday night at West High School with a gutsy fourth-quarter… Continue reading

CIA girls bounce back at state

CIA girls 57, Huslia 41The Eagles girls team staked out an early lead and cruised to a consolation bracket victory Monday at West High School.The… Continue reading

Nikolaevsk, CIA girls fall at state

In a span of less than two hours Saturday evening, the two girls basketball state finalists at the Class 1A level from a year ago… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Nikiski Bulldog Rachel Thompson runs in for a layup during their game against the Mt. Edgecumb Lady Braves Friday Dec. 20, 2013 at Kenai Centra High School in Kenai, Alaska.

Nikiski, Seward girls set for state

Defense wins championships. That mantra has been proven to be true time and time again, and it’s exactly what the Nikiski and Seward girls hoops… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Nikiski Bulldog Rachel Thompson runs in for a layup during their game against the Mt. Edgecumb Lady Braves Friday Dec. 20, 2013 at Kenai Centra High School in Kenai, Alaska.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Soldotna's Makayla Wong looks for an opening to pass during their game against Dimond Friday Jan. 17, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

Stars ready to face West at state

Now that the Soldotna girls have clinched a spot at the Class 4A state basketball tournament in Anchorage, they can breathe easier.But they won’t be… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Soldotna's Makayla Wong looks for an opening to pass during their game against Dimond Friday Jan. 17, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

Boys 1A: Seldovia starts with win in double OT

The Seldovia boys hoops team sure knows how to start a state tournament in style. Hopefully, they know how to finish one too.Seldovia kicked off… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Nikolaevsk Warrior Kilina Klaich reacts with Megan Hickman after their win against the Cook Inlet Academy Eagles Friday March 7, 2014 at Skyview High School in Soldotna, Alaska.  The Warriors will advance to the small school state championship as the result of the game.

Nikolaevsk girls beat CIA, moving on to 1A state tournament

The championship-winning teams from the Peninsula Conference tournament at Skyview High School got a chance to celebrate Saturday by cutting down the nets on the… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Nikolaevsk Warrior Kilina Klaich reacts with Megan Hickman after their win against the Cook Inlet Academy Eagles Friday March 7, 2014 at Skyview High School in Soldotna, Alaska.  The Warriors will advance to the small school state championship as the result of the game.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Seldovia Sea Otter Calem Collier watches as Nikolaevsk Warrior Jaruby Nelson shoots during their game Friday March 7, 2014 at Skyview High School in Soldotna, Alaska.

Seldovia, Nikolaevsk boys break state droughts in Peninsula Conference tourney

The last time the Nikolaevsk boys hoops team qualified for the state tournament, coach Steve Klaich missed the game that put them in. At least… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Seldovia Sea Otter Calem Collier watches as Nikolaevsk Warrior Jaruby Nelson shoots during their game Friday March 7, 2014 at Skyview High School in Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Nikolaevsk's Sophia Kalugin shoots during their game against Ninilchik for the Peninsula Conference Tournament Thursday March 6, 2014 at Skyview High School in Soldotna, Alaska.

CIA, Nikolaevsk girls get Peninsula Conference tourney rematch

The reigning Peninsula Conference champions Nikolaevsk girls earned a spot in today’s tournament championship game with a dominating 59-14 win over Ninilchik on Thursday at… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Nikolaevsk's Sophia Kalugin shoots during their game against Ninilchik for the Peninsula Conference Tournament Thursday March 6, 2014 at Skyview High School in Soldotna, Alaska.

Results of Day 1 of Peninsula Conference tourney

When March Madness rolls around, an upset is usually lurking somewhere, and Wednesday afternoon at Skyview High School, it was the sixth-seeded Seldovia girls toppling… Continue reading

Southcentral Conference hoops preview

The phrase that most basketball coaches love to hear — “Everyone starts at zero and zero” — will be the motivating force behind every prep… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Soldotna's Julie Litchfield shoots during their game against Kenai Saturday March 1, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

SoHi sweeps Kenai on senior night

The Soldotna girls hoops team got its senior night celebration off to a shaky start — with all five seniors on the team singing the… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Soldotna's Julie Litchfield shoots during their game against Kenai Saturday March 1, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Skyview's Micah Hilbish goes in for a layup during their game against Homer Friday Feb. 28, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

Skyview boys win school’s last home game; Homer girls top Skyview

Friday night, all that mattered to Skyview senior Jacob Carlson was getting his team a win on senior night. Carlson did much more than that,… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Skyview's Micah Hilbish goes in for a layup during their game against Homer Friday Feb. 28, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Cook Inlet Academy's Riley Smithwick looks for an opening to pass during their game against Ninilchik Thursday Feb. 27, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

CIA netters sweep Ninilchik

Folks watching the boys hoops game between Peninsula Conference foes Cook Inlet Academy and Ninilchik might have suffered from double vision Thursday night. The number… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Cook Inlet Academy's Riley Smithwick looks for an opening to pass during their game against Ninilchik Thursday Feb. 27, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

Skyview boys beat Seward in OT

Regulation was not enough in Tuesday night’s Southcentral Conference game between the Seward and Skyview boys, giving fans another four minutes of intense, high-energy action.… Continue reading

Colony's Tracen Knopp skis just ahead of Soldotna's Levi Michael during the 10-kilometer classic race of the ASAA/First National Bank State Cross-Country Ski Championships at Kincaid Park in Anchorage Friday.

SoHi’s Fox finishes 2nd in skimeister totals

After a season of frustration, high school cross-country ski teams were treated to a state meet full of fresh snow and clean trails.Buoyed by a… Continue reading

Colony's Tracen Knopp skis just ahead of Soldotna's Levi Michael during the 10-kilometer classic race of the ASAA/First National Bank State Cross-Country Ski Championships at Kincaid Park in Anchorage Friday.