The Ninilchik boys basketball team takes the top seed and an undefeated overall record into the Interior Conference tournament today through Saturday in Tok.
The Ninilchik girls will not play in the tournament because they do not have enough players due to injuries.
The Wolverines, a Class 1A school playing up at the Class 2A level, have a 21-0 overall record and have blown out all Interior Conference competition this season. For example, Ninilchik beat No. 2 seed Susitna Valley 73-22 on Jan. 10.
After defeating Kenai Central on Saturday to finish a perfect regular season, Ninilchik boys head coach Nick Finley said the plan was to just take the tournament one game at a time.
Thursday, the Wolverines play No. 5 seed Tok at 4:30 p.m. Tok defeated No. 4 seed Glennallen 56-45 on Wednesday to open the tournament. Teddy Northway pumped in 20 points for Tok, while Hunter Terrel paced the Panthers with 16. Ninilchik did not get a chance to match up with Tok this season.
If Ninilchik wins Thursday, the Wolverines play in Friday’s conference championship at 7:30 p.m. Any losses, and Ninilchik will have to try and come through the second-place bracket to claim a state berth.
Ninilchik hasn’t been to state since 2017, when the Wolverines claimed a second straight Class 1A state title.
Interior Conference tournament
at Tok
BOYS
Wednesday’s games
Game 1 — Tok 56, Glennallen 45
Thursday’s games
Game 2 — Cordova vs. Effie Kokrine, 10:30 a.m.
Game 3 — Susitna Valley vs. Nenana, 1:30 p.m.
Game 4 — Ninilchik vs. Tok, 4:30 p.m.
Friday’s games
Game 6 — Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser, 10:30 a.m.
Game 7 — Game 6 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 4:30 p.m.
Game 8 — Glennallen vs. Game 5 loser, 1:30 p.m.
Game 9 (Championship) — Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Game 10 — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 10:30 a.m.
Second-place game — Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 2:30 p.m.
