The Kenai Central girls scored a 42-41 overtime victory over Nikiski on Friday in the semifinals of the ACS Pepsi Invitational in Anchorage before falling to the host Lions 80-27 in Saturday’s championship.
The ACS boys also won the title, topping Valdez 66-53 in the title game.
With four seconds to play in overtime Friday, Nikiski had the ball with a chance for the win, but the Kardinals were able to get a hand on the ball and thwart the drive of Bethany Carstens to preserve the victory.
The Bulldogs had defeated the Kardinals (5-2 overall) 50-28 on Dec. 14.
“Honestly, you really don’t worry about scores this early in the year,” Kenai coach Cary Calvert said. “We didn’t worry about that one and we won’t worry about this one.
“We just have to find ways to keep getting better.”
Calvert pointed out that the stat sheet had Carstens, who finished with 21 points, going 1 for 11 from two-point range, though she did hit four of her nine 3s.
“One of 11 from two-point range,” Calvert said. “That’s not going to happen a whole lot. The game could have went either way.”
The coach did give credit to Jaycie Calvert and Hayley Maw for setting the tone on defense. Brooke Satathite was a handful, while Jaiden Streiff also played well.
Calvert also gave the team a huge boost with a hot hand from 3-point range. She hit 5 of 14 from long range, and coach Calvert said a few more rimmed out.
The reward was a matchup with the Lions, who have won the last two Class 3A state titles.
“You don’t really understand how good ACS is until you play them,” Calvert said. “We’ll understand how good they are and have the rest of the year to see if we can figure it out.”
ACS made its presence known early, taking a 24-4 lead after the first quarter. Mykaila Pickard had 16 for the Lions, while Shemah Yisrael had 15, Mary Kate Parks and Jordan Todd had 11 apiece, and Destiny Reimers had 10 points.
For Kenai, Logan Satathite led the way with nine points.
The Nikiski girls (5-1 overall) were able to come back and take third-place in the tournament by defeating Barrow 44-35. The Bulldogs were down 17-10 after a quarter, but cut Barrow’s lead to 26-22 at the half, then went up 33-28 after three quarters and won the fourth quarter 11-7.
Bethany Carstens bounced back strong after Friday’s loss, scoring 17 points on 8 of 13 shooting from the floor. Emma Wik added 10 points for the Bulldogs. For Barrow, Jordan Ahgeak had 15 points and Jenilee Donovan added 11.
The Kenai boys nabbed sixth place at the tournament after losing to Hutchison 57-53 in the fourth-sixth-place game.
Kenai led 18-10 after a quarter, but the Hawks came back to own a 29-25 lead at the half. The third quarter saw Kenai cut the lead to 44-42, but Hutchison won the fourth quarter 13-11.
Kenai’s Adam Trujillo poured in an efficient 27 points, hitting 10 of 20 from the floor and 7 of 11 from the free-throw line. Andrew Bezdecny added 11. For Hutchison, Dieon Frank had 18, Mason Young had 13 and Ross Matherly pitched in 10.
Friday, the Kenai boys advanced in the consolation semifinals with a 63-18 victory over First Christian Academy.
The Kardinals, who received 14 points from Trujillo and 11 points from Braedon Pitsch, had an 18-2 lead after the first quarter.
The Soldotna boys nabbed seventh place at the tournament by topping First Christian Academy of Florida 50-8 on Saturday. Brock Kant had 10 points to lead the Stars.
Friday, Hutchison edged Soldotna 58-57.
The Stars, who were without star player Jersey Truesdell due to illness on Friday and Saturday, fell behind 21-12 after the first quarter, but cut the gap to 28-27 at halftime. The Stars then took a 46-44 lead into the final frame.
Ray Chumley paced Soldotna with 17 points, while Tyler Morrison added 13. For Hutchison, Dieon Frank poured in 24 points and Mason Young added 11.
Homer girls 34, Seward 28
The visiting Mariners shut the Seahawks down in the second half for a Southcentral Conference victory.
Seward led 21-11 at halftime, but then Homer won the second half 23-7.
For Homer, Kelli Bishop led the way with nine points. Riley Von Borstel had 16 for Seward.
Homer boys 45, Seward 38
The visiting Mariners overcame a first-quarter deficit to notch a Southcentral Conference victory against the Seahawks.
Seward led 13-6 after the first quarter, but the score was knotted at 18 at the half. Homer then led 28-24 after three quarters.
For the Mariners, Ethan Anderson led the way with 15 points. Sam Koster had 10 for Seward.
ACS Pepsi Invitational
Girls
MVP — Destiny Reimers, ACS.
All-tournament — Hayley Maw, Kenai; Jenilee Donovan, Barrow; Brooke Satathite, Kenai; Mary Kate Parks, ACS; Bethany Carstens, Nikiski; Tobias Page, Eielson; Alanna Conwell, Kotzebue; Mykaila Pickard, ACS; Jaycie Calvert, Kenai; Jordan Todd, ACS.
Boys
MVP — Danilo Guzman, ACS.
All-tournament — Bennett Hinkie, Valdez; Evan Stockton, Kenai; Fredrick Onochie, ACS; Orlando Lozano, ACS; Brendon Matthews, Barrow; Dieon Frank, Hutchison; Christian Bolton, Eielson; Anthony Fruean, Barrow; Logan Heckathorn, Valdez; Jaien Freeman, Valdez.
Friday boys
Kardinals 63, Lions 18
Kenai 18 23 15 7 — 63
FCA 2 9 7 0 — 18
KENAI CENTRAL (63) — Dunham 3, Efta 2, Felchle 6, Baker 4, Custodio 2, Bezdecny 7, Stockton 5, Trujillo 14, Stafford 2, Pitsch 11, Daniels 7, McKibben 0. Totals — 27 7-16 63.
FIRST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (18) — R. Jennings 5, Nugent 2, Dubose 2, Caleb Talton 0, M. Jennings 3, Davis 0, Wingfield 3, Caden Talton 0, Hawkins 0, Fleming 0, Collins 2, Combs 1, Sloan 0. Totals — 7 2-10 18.
3-point goals — Kenai 2 (Felchle, Daniels); FCA 2 (M. Jennings, Wingfield). Team fouls — Kenai 16, FCA 12. Fouled out — none.
Hawks 58, Stars 57
Hutchison 21 7 16 14 — 58
Soldotna 12 15 19 11 — 57
HUTCHISON (58) — Matherly 4, D. Frank 24, Young 11, Silas 8, O. Frank 6, Kesey 5. Totals — 19 10-16 58.
SOLDOTNA (57) — Rich 6, Morrison 13, Hanson 4, Chumley 17, Kant 7, Wells 5, Rosin 1, Michael 4, Denna 0. Totals — 21 11-17 57.
3-point goals — Hutchison 10 (D. Frank 5, Young 2, O. Frank 2, Matherly); Soldotna 4 (Rich, Chumley, Kant, Wells). Team fouls — Hutchison 12, Fouled out — none.
Friday girls
Kardinals 42, Bulldogs 41
Kenai 8 9 5 14 6 — 42
Nikiski 6 7 8 15 5 — 41
KENAI CENTRAL (42) — Calvert 17, Hamilton 0, Maw 6, Hanson 6, Streiff 5, L. Satathite 2, Severson 0, B. Satathite 6. Totals — 17 3-13 42.
NIKISKI (41) — Jeffreys 3, Wik 3, L. Carstens 6, Bostic 5, Johnson 2, B. Carstens 21, Clark 1, Zimmerman 0. Totals — 13 11-24 41.
3-point goals — Kenai 5 (Calvert 5); Nikiski 4 (B. Carstens 4). Team fouls — Kenai 20, Nikiski 17. Fouled out — B. Satathite.
Saturday boys
Stars 50, Lions 8
Soldotna 18 9 11 12 — 50
FCA 4 0 4 0 — 8
SOLDOTNA (50) — Rich 4, Morrison 6, Hanson 5, Chumley 6, Kant 10, Wells 8, Rosin 3, Michael 6, Denna 2. Totals — 23 4-11 50.
FIRST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (8) — Nugent 1, Dubose 0, Caleb Talton 0, M. Jennings 5, Davis 0, Caden Talton 0, Hawkins 0, Fleming 0, Collins 0, Combs 2, Sloan 0. Totals — 3 1-2 8.
3-point goals — FCA 1 (M. Jennings). Team fouls — Soldotna 6, FCA 11. Fouled out — none.
Hawks 57, Kardinals 53
Hutchison 10 19 15 13 — 57
Kenai 18 7 17 11 — 53
HUTCHISON (57) — Matherly 10, D. Frank 18, M. Young 13, Silas 8, O. Frank 2, Uribe 0, Kesey 6. Totals — 21 10-16 57.
KENAI CENTRAL (53) — Efta 6, Felchle 3, Baker 2, Bezdecny 11, Stockton 4, Trujillo 27, Pitsch 0, McKibben 0. Totals — 18 14-20 53.
3-point goals — Hutchison 5 (D. Drank 2, Matherly, M. Young, Silas); Kenai Central 3 (Bezdecny 2, Felchle). Team fouls — Hutchison 14, Kenai Central 16. Fouled out — Baker.
Mariners 45, Seahawks 38
Homer 6 12 10 17 — 45
Seward 13 5 6 14 — 38
HOMER (45) — Beachy 2, Adkins 8, Reutov 6, T. McGhee 3, Raymond 0, Anderson 15, Kuhn 0, Knapp 0, J. McGhee 9, Swoboda 2, Mann 0. Totals — 19 4-14 45.
SEWARD (38) — Basalo 1, Spanos 8, Koster 10, Moriarity 0, Cronin 3, Ingalls 5, Pfieffenberger 7, Jarvis 4, Nilsson 0. Totals — 13 8-19 38.
3-point goals — Homer 1 (T. McGhee); Seward 4 (Koster 2, Ingalls, Pfieffenberger). Team fouls — Homer 20, Seward 17. Fouled out — Adkins.
Saturday girls
Bulldogs 44, Whalers 35
Nikiski 10 12 11 11 — 44
Barrow 17 9 2 7 — 35
NIKISKI (44) — Jeffreys 6, Wik 10, L. Carstens 0, Bostic 0, Johnson 2, B. Carstens 17, Clark 9, Hooper 0, Reichert 0, Zimmerman 0. Totals — 19 3-6 44.
BARROW (35) — Kaleak 2, L. Brower 3, Leavitt 0, Donovan 11, Baek 2, Ahgeak 15, Manu 0, C. Brower 0, Wolgemuth 0, Elkins 2. Totals — 13 7-16 35.
3-point goals — Nikiski 3 (Wik 2, B. Carstens); Barrow 2 (L. Brower, Ahgeak). Team fouls — Nikiski 16, Barrow 12. Fouled out — B. Carstens.
Lions 80, Kardinals 27
Kenai 4 8 7 8 — 27
ACS 24 23 27 6 — 80
KENAI CENTRAL (27) — Calvert 0, Villegas 0, Pierce 0, Hamilton 7, Maw 5, Hanson 4, Streiff 0, L. Satathite 9, Severson 0, B. Satathite 2, Reis 0. Totals — 9 6-14 27.
ANCHORAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS (80) — Parks 11, Smallwood 7, Davis 2, Reimers 10, Tiulana 4, Powell 2, Randall 0, Pickard 16, Sorrells 2, Yisrael 15, Todd 11. Totals — 31 11-17 80.
3-point goals — Kenai 3 (L. Satathite 2, Maw); ACS 7 (Yisrael 4, Pickard 3). Team fouls — Kenai 13, ACS 10. Fouled out — none.
Mariners 34, Seahawks 28
Homer 8 3 10 13 — 34
Seward 10 11 3 4 — 28
HOMER (34) — Inama 3, Bishop 9, Johnson 0, Bales 3, Doughty 8, Todd 5, Parish 2, Rhodes 0, Carroll 4, Hetrick 0, Anderson 0. Totals — 9 14-19 34.
SEWARD (28) — Lemme 4, Ambrosiani 2, Von Borstel 16, Sieverts 0, Jackson 6, Sewell 0. Totals — 9 6-10 28.
3-point goals — Homer 3 (Inama, Bishop, Todd); Seward 4 (Von Borstel 2, Lemme, Jackson). Team fouls — Homer 12, Seward 17. Fouled out — Von Borstel, Sieverts.
