Soldotna’s Grayson Henry faces a trap from Jasmine Schaeffer and Keelie Kronberger of Mountain City Christian Academy on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Grayson Henry faces a trap from Jasmine Schaeffer and Keelie Kronberger of Mountain City Christian Academy on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

MCCA girls, boys basketball sweeps weekend from SoHi

The visiting Mountain City Christian Academy girls and boys basketball teams swept Soldotna on Friday and Saturday in Northern Lights Conference action.

The Lions girls won 77-39 on Friday and 65-26 on Saturday as the Stars fell to 2-2 in the league and 7-6 overall. The Lions are 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the league.

The MCCA boys won 52-41 on Friday and 73-40 on Saturday as the Stars fell to 2-2 in the league and 7-6 overall. The Lions are 3-1 in the league and 5-3 overall.

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

In the Friday girls game, Soldotna head coach Rustin Hitchcock said the full-court press of the Lions was the difference.

“Honestly, if you took away all that, which was a lot, but in the half court, we hung with them,” Hitchcock said. “It was the points off turnovers that made the deficit a lot bigger.”

Friday was only the sixth game of the season for the Lions.

“We just haven’t been able to practice some of this stuff on other teams,” MCCA head coach Lonnie Ridgeway said. “You’re like, man, I think this works on other people when you’re in practice, but you don’t know.”

Ridgeway said the Stars exposed a few problems with the press on which the Lions will have to work.

The coach said he was happy with the way his squad executed on offense, with senior point guard Morgan Maldonado being a big reason why.

Maldonado, who had 14 points, is committed to Division I Boise State University. Ridgeway said Maldonado always has a sense of what the coach is trying to do on offense.

“As a coach, having someone like her is a cheat code,” he said. “It makes my job a lot easier.”

Ridgeway said he was happy that the bench players kept the defensive intensity up.

Brooklynn Ridgeway had 22 for the Lions, while Keelie Kronberger had 20, Nyatuong Majiok had 7, Jasmine Schaeffer had 6 and Jayda Pastana had 5.

Hitchcock said his team stayed together despite the lopsided score, which is a good sign for the future. He gave credit to the team’s leadership, mentioning Anaulie Sedivy, who led with 9 points.

The coach also liked the way the team fought back more in the second half, mentioning Jillian Duncan immediately trying to strip the ball after missing a shot close to the hoop.

“That’s the kind of stuff we need to start filling in the gaps,” Hitchcock said.

In the half court, Hitchock liked what he saw from Anika Jedlicka and her 7 points. He said post players Hope Hillyer (8), Rebekah Pieh (6) and Cassidy Kruse (4) were threats when the Stars did break the press.

Also for the Stars, Cami Kincaid had 2 and Teagen Kobylarz had 1.

MCCA boys 52, Soldotna 41

Friday, the Stars held a 36-30 lead entering the fourth quarter, but lost the final frame 22-5.

Lions point guard Jaidhen Oyao had 14 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter.

“The difference in the game is No. 3,” Soldotna head boys coach Darren Zibell said of Oyao. “He leaked out in transition four times.

“We talked about it in timeouts that we had to get back. It’s just a lack of awareness.”

The easy buckets by Oyao meant everything in what Zibell called a “rock fight” where baskets were hard to come by.

“We also had 26 turnovers, 16 in the first half,” Zibell said. “You’re not going to win many games turning it over that much.”

Zibell said the Stars are banged up right now, most notably missing the ballhandling and scoring talents of Izaiah Gilbert due to a sprained ankle.

“He could go, but it’s one of those where he keeps reinjuring it every game,” Zibell said. “We chose to rest him this weekend. He’s going to ice it.

“Obviously, we’re a different team without him.”

Zibell said the injuries opened up opportunities for other players. Owen Buckbee had 2 points, but Zibell said Buckbee was vital in handling the ball.

The coach also said Josh Babcock, who had 2, and Will Klein, who was scoreless, were solid off the bench.

“We’ve got some injuries, so I’m getting to the end of my bench,” Zibell said. “I can stick guys in and they’re going to produce.”

Also for MCCA, Darian Igwacho had 10, Lukas Underhile and Serge Duchatellier had 7, and Stryder Kronberger had 5.

Also for the Stars, Easton Hawkins had 11, Jayden Stuyvesant had 9, Damari Adams had 7, Sam Strouse and Theo Huff had 4, and Liam Peck had 2.

MCCA girls 65, Soldotna 26

The Lions got the weekend sweep Saturday.

For the Stars, Grayson Henry and Kruse had 6, Alyssa McDonald had 4, Laurel Johnson had 3, Kobylarz, Sedivy and Ryan Queen had 2, and Hillyer had 1.

For MCCA, Maldonado had 15, Schaeffer had 14, Kronberger had 10, Pastana had 9, Majiok had 7, Madlynn Morris had 6 and Ridgeway had 4.

MCCA boys 73, Soldotna 40

The Lions rolled to victory Saturday.

For the Stars, Hawkins had 9, Stuyvesant had 8, Klein and Huff had 7, Adams had 6, Buckbee had 2 and Strouse had 1.

For MCCA, Underhile had 22, Oyao had 20, Igwacho had 11, Kronberger had 10, Sahli Howard and Duchatellier had 4, and Jack Matthews had 2.

Soldotna’s Will Klein battles for the ball with Stryder Kronburger of Mountain City Christian Academy on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Will Klein battles for the ball with Stryder Kronburger of Mountain City Christian Academy on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Jaidhen Oyao of Mountain City Christian Academy drives against Theo Huff of Soldotna on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Jaidhen Oyao of Mountain City Christian Academy drives against Theo Huff of Soldotna on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Ryan Queen shoots against Jayda Pastana of Mountain City Christian Academy on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Ryan Queen shoots against Jayda Pastana of Mountain City Christian Academy on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/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