The Nikiski boys basketball team shook off a slow start to defeat Homer 56-37 on Thursday in the opening round of the Southcentral Conference tournament at Grace Christian High School in Anchorage.
The Mariners, the No. 6 seed, were hunting an upset early after outscoring the No. 3 Bulldogs 11-9 in the first quarter.
However, Nikiski won the second quarter 19-6 on the way to taking control of the game.
Hunter Holloway had 13 points to lead the Bulldogs, while Luke Johnson had 11 and Nathan Carstens added 10.
For Homer, Charles Rohr and Koby Etzwiler each had 11.
Nikiski advances to today’s 7:15 p.m. semifinal against No. 2 Grace Christian.
Homer falls to the third-place semifinals, where the Mariners will play the loser of a Friday semifinal at 10:45 a.m. Saturday.
Houston girls 40, Houston 33
The No. 5 Hawks used a giant fourth quarter to turn back the No. 4 Bulldogs.
Nikiski led 24-21 heading into the final eight minutes, but the Hawks won the final quarter 19-9 to move into the semifinals.
Houston plays top seed Homer today at 2 p.m. Nikiski will take today off before playing in the third-place semifinals at 9 a.m. Saturday against the loser of today’s semifinal.
Kelsey Clark pumped in 11 points for the Bulldogs, while Kimberly Quincy had 15 for the Hawks.
Seward boys 54, Houston 47, OT
Ronnie Jackson had 29 points, including seven in overtime, as the No. 4 Seahawks edged the No. 5 Hawks.
The game was close throughout until Seward won the overtime 9-2.
Houston led 11-10 after one, 24-19 after two and 35-29 after three.
Jackson was the only player in double figures for Seward, while Kade Taylor had 22 for the Hawks and Ben Bitler added 14.
Seward advances to today’s semifinals against top seed Anchorage Christian Schools, slated for 3:45 p.m.
Houston falls into the third-place semifinals, and will face the loser of a semifinal Saturday at 10:45 a.m.
Grace Christian girls 57, Seward 34
The tournament hosts and No. 3 seed made quick work of the No. 6 Seahawks.
Grace Christian jumped out to a 19-6 lead after the first quarter and a 34-15 lead at halftime.
Grace, which was 13 of 15 from the charity stripe, received 15 from Annie VanderWeide and 10 each from Grace Salima and Sarah Laker.
For Seward, Ayla Lapinskas had 13.
Grace plays No. 2 seed Anchorage Christian Schools at 5:30 p.m. today in the semifinals.
Seward will play in the third-place semifinals at 9 a.m. Saturday against the loser of a Friday semifinal.
Thursday girls
Hawks 40, Bulldogs 33
Nikiski 8 5 11 9 —33
Houston 8 3 10 19 —40
NIKISKI (33) — Wik 2 1-4 6, Riddall 2 0-1 4, Vollertsen 2 0-0 4, Pitt 0 1-2 1, Kornstad 1 0-0 3, Clark 4 0-0 11, Parrish 1 2-2 4, Jackson 0 0-0 0. Totals — 12 4-9 33.
HOUSTON (40) — May-Thomas 4 0-0 9, Bean 0 0-0 0, Ruth 3 3-4 9, M. Moore 0 1-4 1, Wilkerson 0 2-4 2, Quincy 5 5-7 15, Kapuneai 0 0-0 0, T. Moore 0 4-5 4. Totals — 12 15-24 40.
3-point goals — Nikiski 5 (Clark 3, Wik, Kornstad); Houston 1 (May-Thomas). Team fouls — Nikiski 18, Houston 13. Fouled out — Pitt.
Grizzlies 57, Seahawks 34
Seward 6 9 8 11 —34
Grace 19 15 15 8 —57
SEWARD (34) — Moriarty 3 0-0 6, Honebein 2 3-4 8, Tolson 0 0-0 0, Jackson 0 1-2 1, Lapinskas 6 0-0 13, VonBorstel 2 0-0 6, Petrosius 0 0-2 0. Totals — 13 4-8 34.
GRACE CHRISTIAN (57) — VanderWeide 4 4-4 15, Markel 0 0-0 0, Hagen 3 0-0 6, Shamburger 3 0-0 6, Hogan 2 0-0 6, Jarvis 1 0-1 2, Osborne 1 0-0 2, Salima 2 5-5 10, Laker 3 4-5 10. Totals — 19 13-15 57.
3-point goals — Seward 4 (VonBorstel 2, Lapinskas, Honebein); Grace 6 (VanderWeide 3, Hogan 2, Salima). Team fouls — Seward 13, Grace 9. Fouled out — none.
Thursday boys
Seahawks 54, Hawks 47, OT
Seward 10 9 10 16 9 —54
Houston 11 13 11 10 2 —47
SEWARD (54) — Berry 2 0-0 4, Zweifel 1 2-3 5, Brewi 0 2-2 2, Jacobson 0 0-0 0, Sieverts 4 0-0 9, Pahno 2 0-1 5, Jackson 9 5-6 29. Totals — 18 5-12 54.
HOUSTON (47) — Ka. Taylor 9 0-0 22, Ko. Taylor 1 0-0 2, Ross 0 0-0 0, Pelesasa 3 0-0 6, Graham 1 1-2 3, Bitler 7 0-0 14. Totals — 21 1-2 47.
3-point goals — Seward 9 (Jackson 6, Pahno, Sieverts, Zweifel); Houston 4 (Ka. Taylor 4). Team fouls — Seward 9, Houston 16. Fouled out — none.
Bulldogs 56, Mariners 37
Homer 11 6 11 9 —37
Nikiski 9 19 15 13 —56
HOMER (37) — Rohr 5 0-0 11, Etzwiler 5 0-0 11, Beachy 1 0-0 3, Edens 2 0-0 4, Felde 0 0-0 0, Ellison 2 0-0 4, Kallelid 1 1-2 3, Carroll 0 0-0 0, Cortez 0 0-0 0, Swoboda 0 0-0 0, Mann 0 1-2 1. Totals — 16 2-4 37.
NIKISKI (56) — I. Johnson 3 1-2 7, Anderson 1 1-2 3, L. Johnson 5 1-2 11, Kornstad 0 1-2 1, Holloway 5 2-2 13, Handley 1 0-0 2, Tauriainen 2 0-0 5, Ellis 0 0-0 0, Carstens 5 0-0 10, Pamplin 2 0-0 4. Totals — 24 6-10 56.
3-point goals — Homer 3 (Rohr, Etzwiler, Beachy); Nikiski 2 (Holloway, Tauriainen). Team fouls — Homer 13, Nikiski 8. Fouled out — none.
