The Kenai Central girls fell to Valdez 49-44 in overtime at the Class 3A state basketball fourth-place semifinals at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Thursday.
The Kardinals (16-11 overall) end their season by tying for seventh at state.
Kenai head coach Jeff Swick said after the game that the Kards started slowly Thursday morning, which put them at a disadvantage.
“Valdez played really tough and they’re a real scrappy team,” he said. “It felt like even though we weren’t down by a bunch we felt like we were playing catchup the whole game.”
The Kardinals, seeded No. 5 in the state tournament, were fresh off a tough 47-34 loss to No. 4 Sitka early Wednesday morning. Valdez, seeded No. 8, lost to first seed Monroe Catholic on the first day of the tournament.
“It was hard to bounce back after the game against Sitka,” Swick said. “I think there’s the emotion of losing and coming back right away first thing in the morning and playing again, I think that contributed a little bit to maybe a slow start.”
The Buccaneers began the game by moving the ball quickly and prolonging their possessions by pulling down some key offensive rebounds. Valdez also drew multiple charges, leading 12-9 at the end of the first quarter and 18-15 at the half.
The Kardinals inched their way back to make it a close game, tying the score at the beginning of the third quarter and then taking a slim lead heading into the final quarter, 28-26.
Valdez and Kenai played fairly evenly in the fourth, increasing the intensity of the game with a lot of back-and-forth scoring.
The Kardinals got into some foul trouble at the end, giving Valdez a couple opportunities for extra buckets. Valdez had a score-stop-score run to take the lead, 38-34, with just 1:55 left, but Kenai came back with a layup and two free throws to tie the game at the end of the fourth.
In the four minutes of overtime, Valdez outscored Kenai on a few fast breaks and bonus fouls, ending the game on top, 49-44.
Swick said he’s most proud of the way the Kardinals have been able to handle the pressure to perform all season.
“I think there was a little more pressure on us this year since we went to state the year before,” he said. “So they have been able to respond to that pressure (and were) able to perform under that pressure.”
It will be especially difficult, Swick said, to play next year without seniors Erin Koziczkowski, Logan Satathite, Amber Nash and Denali Bernard.
“The four of them, I’m really going to miss them because they’ve been here since I’ve been here,” he said. “It’s tough to see them go, especially this way. I really wanted one of those end-of-the-season moments.”
Nash, one of the four seniors, was awarded player of the game for the Kardinals on Thursday. She scored Kenai’s final bucket on a layup to force overtime.
Swick said she’s been a standout all season.
“I told her after, I don’t think there’s ever been anyone more deserving,” he said. “It was really good to see her specifically have her basketball career come to an end in that way, with some recognition.”
Emma Beck led the Kardinals with 18 points Thursday. Nash had 13, Bernard had 11 and Koziczkowski scored two.
Kylie Gilbert was the top scorer for Valdez with 20 points. Carsyn Hinkle had 13, Kat Taylor had six, Luci Selanoff had five, Carlie Vanbuskirk had four and Ambrosia Woodgate scored one. Hinkle was Valdez’s player of the game.
Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.
