The Kenai boys were able to advance to the winners’ side of the ACS Pepsi Invitational on Thursday in Anchorage, while the Homer boys and Kenai girls fell into the consolation side of the bracket.

The Kardinals boys notched a 44-42 victory over Kotzebue. Kenai trailed 20-14 at halftime, but led 34-28 by the end of three quarters and was able to hold off the Huskies.

Evan Stockton had 12 points to pace the Kardinals, while Andrew Bezdecny and Braedon Pitsch had 11 apiece. For Kotzebue, Michael Hensley rained in 24 points and six 3-pointers.

The Barrow girls defeated Kenai 51-34. The Kardinals grabbed an 11-9 lead after the first quarter, but Barrow led 27-17 by halftime and 40-23 by the end of the third quarter.

Alyssa Grimes had 10 points for the Whalers, while Damaris Severson had 11 and Kailey Hamilton added 10 for the Kards.

The Barrow boys defeated Homer 55-47, with the Whalers taking an 11-2 lead after the first quarter. Anthony Fruean led a balanced attack for Barrow, while Eyoab Knapp had 12 and Clayton Beachy had 11 for Homer.

Today, the Kenai boys will take on Barrow at 5:30 p.m. in the semifinals, while Homer and Kotzebue face off in the consolation bracket at 10:30 a.m.

The Kenai girls take on Kotzebue in the consolation bracket at 9 a.m.

Thursday boys

Whalers 55, Mariners 47

Homer 2 15 17 13 —47

Barrow 11 18 16 10 —55

HOMER (47) — Munns 0, Beachy 11, Etzwiler 3, Lowney 5, Jon. Raymond 8, Anderson 0, Kuhn 0, Knapp 12, Mann 5, Jos. Raymond 3.

BARROW (55) — Dias 2, Kim 5, Matthews 6, Nobleza 3, Nelson 0, Texeira 8, Mongoyak 8, Weyiouanna 2, Goodwin 0, Fruean 12, Gerke 9.

3-point goals — Homer 2 (Beachy, Knapp); Barrow 6 (Gerke 3, Kim, Nobleza, Texeira). Team fouls — Homer 15, Barrow 23. Fouled out — Dias.

Kardinals 44, Huskies 42

Kotzebue 14 6 8 14 —42

Kenai 10 4 20 10 —44

KOTZEBUE (42) — Hensley 24, Williamson 5, Ivanoff 3, Booth 6, Kramer 0, Stalker 4.

KENAI CENTRAL (44) — Dunham 6, McKibben 0, Kvasnikoff 2, Bezdecny 11, Stockton 12, Tunseth 2, Pitsch 11.

3-point goals — Kotzebue 8 (Hensley 6, Williamson, Ivanoff); Kenai Team fouls — Kotzebue 12, Kenai 5. Fouled out — none.

Thursday girls

Whalers 51, Kardinals 34

Kenai 11 6 6 11 — 34

Barrow 9 18 13 11 —51

KENAI CENTRAL (34) — Pierce 0, Hamilton 10, Hanson 5, Streiff 5, Satathite 3, Severson 11, Lauritsen 0.

BARROW (51) — Kaleak 5, Grimes 10, L. Brower 2, Leavitt 2, Donovan 7, C. Brower 4, Suesue 0, Fruean 2, Chrestman-Adams 0.

3-point goals — Kenai 1 (Satathite); Team fouls — Kenai 12, Barrow 7. Fouled out — none.