The Homer High School boys varsity basketball traveled to Nikiski for a conference game last Thursday, Jan. 29, and defeated the Bulldogs 93-67. The boys team is now 2-4 overall and 0-0 in conference play.
Head coach Jose Musa said that the Mariners “battled a tough opponent.”
“While victorious, the score did not tell the story,” he wrote via text Monday. “Nikiski out-rebounded us, which kept them in the game. If it wasn’t for an absolutely stunning performance by junior Ben Engebretsen, the game would have been much closer.”
Homer girls basketball falls to Nikiski, Grace Christian
The Homer High School girls varsity basketball team traveled to Nikiski for a conference game last Thursday. The Bulldogs beat out Homer 43-31.
The Mariner girls also hosted Grace Christian on Friday, and fell to the Grizzlies 57-12. The girls team is now 2-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Head coach Kailee Veldstra said via text Monday that she was “really proud” of Homer’s defensive game during both games last week. Junior Almalinda Norman, sophomore Liliana Harris and sophomore Kimberly Donyes “stepped up huge defensively” in the Nikiski game.
“We got some good shots and I’d say we really fought hard for that one despite the loss,” she wrote. “Grace’s matchup was another one we knew we’d have to play good defense, and I think we did.”
Veldstra said that senior Keagan Niebuhr “did a great job inside” on both ends of the floor. The team also welcomed back sophomore Abby Ostrom, who Veldstra called “a great playmaker” and who had been out due to injury.
Homer will host the annual Winter Carnival Tournament this week, Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 5-7. The Mariners will face off against Su-Valley, Nikiski, Grace Christian and Ninilchik schools.
“We’ve got a full week coming up and we’re super excited as a team!” Veldstra wrote. “Looking forward to seeing both (Nikiski and Grace) again at our Carnival.”
Musa also said that the boys team is looking forward to facing off against “three quality opponents” during the tournament.
“We hope our play makes our community proud,” he wrote.
