Kenai Central’s Denali Bernard keeps the ball from Nikiski’s Avery White and Destiny Langston on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central’s Denali Bernard keeps the ball from Nikiski’s Avery White and Destiny Langston on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai girls, Nikiski boys notch league wins

The Kenai Central girls basketball team defeated Nikiski in Peninsula Conference play Tuesday, 49-20, putting the Kardinals at 14-6 overall and 5-2 in conference.

The Bulldogs moved to 1-18 overall and 0-6 in conference play.

Kenai head coach Jeff Swick said he was able to play the entirety of his bench to get them some exposure Tuesday night.

“We were trying to get everyone in the game and get some meaningful minutes,” he said. “One of our goals at the beginning of the year is have a game where everybody scored, and actually we got that today.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Swick said the Bulldogs played tough defense Tuesday night, and that the score didn’t necessarily reflect the intensity of the game.

“Nikiski is a better team than their record shows, I really believe that they get after the ball on defense and we struggled at first getting anything kind of easily,” he said.

Rustin Hitchcock II, head coach of the Bulldogs, said he had the team switch defenses throughout the game.

“We threw six different defenses at them … and they adapted well,” he said. “We gave a lot of different defensive looks.”

Hitchcock II said Tuesday’s game got scrappy, and that sometimes those aggressive runs turn into turnovers.

“That’s just our Achilles’ heel,” he said.

Kenai led the whole game: 12-2 at the end of the first quarter, 25-6 at the half and 36-13 after the third.

Sophomore Emma Beck led the Kardinals with 17 points Tuesday night. Seniors Amber Nash and Erin Koziczkowski had six each, senior Denali Bernard and freshman Sierra Hershberger scored four each, and juniors Riley Sparks, Malerie Nunn, Shania McCanna and Emilee Wilson had two points each. Freshman Kate Wisnewski scored one point for the Kardinals.

Senior Kinlee Jeffreys was Nikiski’s top scorer with 12 points. Sophomore Avery White had six, and junior Savanna Stock and sophomore Shelby Burman each had a point for the Bulldogs.

Nikiski boys 52, Kenai 51

The Bulldogs boys got a big defensive stop in the final seconds to secure a Peninsula Conference victory and beat the Kardinals for the first time in four tries this season.

Nikiski moves to 2-4 in the league and 7-13 overall, while the Kards stand at 3-4 and 6-13.

The Bulldogs led 14-12 after the first quarter, but the Kards grabbed a 27-24 lead at the break. Nikiski led 40-33 headed to the final quarter.

Drew Handley paced the Bulldogs with 14 points, while Brady Bostic and Simon Grenier had nine, Braedon Porter had eight, Charlie Chamberlain had six, Dillon Hanson had five and Isaiah Daniels had one.

For the Kardinals, Jakob Kvasnikoff had 13, Caleb Litke had 12, Wade James had 11, Bridger Beck had seven, and Ky Calvert and Eli McCubbins each had four.

Nikiski’s Simon Grenier battles Kenai Central’s Eli McCubbins for the ball Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski’s Simon Grenier battles Kenai Central’s Eli McCubbins for the ball Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

More in Sports

Zac Cowan putts a golf ball into a hole during the Alaska Sign Source Pro Am at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Azzara, Moore win Birch Ridge Pro Am

The top four pros were rounded out by Zac Cowan with 78 and Bill Engberg at 84.

tease
1st Soldotna Cycle Series of the year draws 49

The first Soldotna Cycle Series race took place Thursday, July 10, at… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Can things get even better?

The silvers are starting to get their finny freak on at our famous Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon.

Runners line up at the start for the Seldovia Salmon Shuffle 5K race on Friday, July 4, 2025, in Seldovia, Alaska. Photo courtesy Ecola Collier
255 do the Salmon Shuffle

The 5K race is held annually as part of Seldovia’s 4th of July celebrations.

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Hard luck at the fishing hole

The action wasn’t as hot as in the past, but neither was the run.

Seward's Fred Moore stands at the base of Mount Marathon in Seward, Alaska, on Monday, June 24, 2019. Moore will run in his 50th consecutive Mount Marathon race on July 4. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
‘It’s been a good run’

Seward’s Moore explains his decision to end his Mount Marathon streak at 54

Matthew Schilling of the American Legion Post 20 Twins slides safely past Eagle River catcher Jack Mullen on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Monday: Twins keep rolling with sweep of Eagle River

The American Legion Post 20 Twins swept Eagle River on Monday at… Continue reading

Sharon Tyone, Dan Aaronson and Jessica Small make the "real life slot machine" work at the Oilers All-Star Family Field Day on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Oilers return to field for All-Star Family Field Day

It was only for a day, but the Peninsula Oilers were able… Continue reading

David Norris, 34, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, wins the men's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Norris goes 6 for 6 in Mount Marathon men’s race; Moore’s streak ends at 54 races

One streak lived while another streak ended during a brilliantly sunny men’s… Continue reading

Anchorage's Klaire Rhodes, 27, wins the women's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Rhodes defends women’s Mount Marathon crown

With Seward stuffed with people for 97th running of the Mount Marathon… Continue reading

The juniors start at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Zuber, Flagstad capture junior Mount Marathon races

Kenai’s Boonstra takes 2nd in junior girls race

tease
Thursday: Twins finish strong road trip by sweeping South

The visiting American Legion Post 20 Twins picked up 10-0 and 18-5… Continue reading

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in