Thursday hoops roundup: Nikiski girls win on opening day of Tip Off Tournament

Thursday hoops roundup: Nikiski girls win on opening day of Tip Off Tournament

The Houston boys opened the Rus Hitchcock Tip Off Tournament in Nikiski with a 56-46 victory over the host Bulldogs.

Braden Cart and Cody Wyrick each had 12 points for the Hawks, while Noah Litke had 21 points to lead all scorers for the Bulldogs.

The Nikiski girls notched a 41-29 victory over Houston, with Tika Zimmerman leading the Bulldogs with 14 points.

In the early boys game, it was West JV 71, South JV 40. Canan Huss had 15 points for West, while Phal Choat had 13 and Julius Adlawan had 12. For South, Luke Ivanoff had 17.

In the early girls game, Service varsity defeated Dimond JV 60-27

Kodiak boys 64, Kenai 42

The Kodiak boys got rolling after the first quarter for a 64-42 nonconference victory over host Kenai Central on Thursday.

Kenai had an 11-8 lead after the first quarter, but after that Kodiak’s offense kicked it into gear. Kodiak led 26-20 by halftime, and had a 43-29 lead after three quarters.

Sam Galindo had 18 points for the Bears, while Jackson Krug had 12 and Shawn Case added 11.

For the Kardinals, Evan Stockton had 12 points, while Braedon Pitsch also pitched in with 10 points.

Tanalian girls 53, CIA 7

Tanalian cruised to victory Thursday in the opening round of the Birchwood Bash at Birchwood Christian School.

Katelyn Johnson paced Tanalian with 17 points. For CIA, Anna Henderson led the way with seven points.

Tanalian boys 51, CIA 50

The Tanalian boys edged CIA 51-50 on Thursday on the first day of the Birchwood Bash.

For CIA, both Cole Moore and James Boyd had 17 points apiece. For Tanalian, Isaac Fowler led the way with 13 points.

Thursday boys

Bears 64, Kardinals 42

Kodiak 8 18 17 21 —64

Kenai 11 9 9 13 —42

KODIAK (64) — Mangrobang 2, Doctolero 2, S. Case 11, Galindo 18, Marcelo 2, Rocheleau 7, Ocampo 2, Valdez 3, C. Case 2, Josh Ticman 3, Krug 12.

KENAI CENTRAL (42) — Dunham 4, McKibben 0, Baisden 0, Jo. Kvasnikoff 0, Bezdecny 4, Stockton 12, Tunseth 9, Pitsch 10, Daniels 3.

3-point goals — Kodiak 10 (S. Case 3, Galindo 2, Rocheleau 2, Valdez, Ticman, Krug); Kenai 4 (Stockton 2, Tunseth, Daniels). Team fouls — Kodiak 12, Kenai 10.

Tanalian 51, Eagles 50

CIA 9 12 15 14 —50

Tanalian 16 10 9 16 —51

COOK INLET ACADEMY (50) — Mathison 1, Johnson 0, Cragg 2, Bears 0, Moore 17, E. Boyd , Ja. Boyd 17, Zeigler 4, Jo. Boyd 6.

TANALIAN (51) — I. Fowler 13, P. Alsworth 7, Taft 3, Davis 7, Wardell 9, C. Alsworth 4, K. Fowler 8.

3-point goals — CIA 5 (Moore 4, Ja. Boyd);

Thursday girls

Tanalian 53, Eagles 7

CIA 4 2 0 1 —7

Tanalian 17 11 13 12 —53

COOK INLET ACADEMY (7) — Henderson 7, Hyatt 0, Smith 0, Dohse 0, Nelson 0, Liles 0, Castenholz 0, Wahl 0, Rozak 0.

TANALIAN (53) — Beebe 6, A. Voran 7, M. Voran 2, Johnson 19, Alsworth 4, Wardell 2, Smith 2, McGee 11.

3-point goals — none. Team fouls — CIA 10, Tanalian 14. Fouled out — none.

More in Sports

Photo courtesy Pete Dickinson
The SoHi junior varsity and varsity wrestling teams compete in the Battle for the Bird at Soldotna High School on Wednesday, Nov. 26. The Kenai Peninsula Athletics Sapphire dance team performed the halftime show.
SoHi, Nikiski wrestling teams compete for Thanksgiving dinner

The Stars and Bulldogs faced off during the Battle for the Bird duals last Wednesday.

Runners of all ages gather for a photo in the Homer High School Commons after the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. Due to icy outdoor conditions, the official run was moved to the high school halls. Photo courtesy Matthew Smith
55 turn out for Homer Turkey Trot

Each Thanksgiving morning, the Kachemak Bay Running Club and the City of… Continue reading

The varsity wrestling team is pictured after the Robin Hervey individual tournament in Kodiak on Nov. 22, 2025. Photo courtesy of Pete Dickinson
Sports briefs: Soldotna hockey, wrestling teams secure wins at weekend tournaments

SoHi hockey won the End of the Road tournament in Homer and the wrestling team gained 20 individual wins.

The Kenai Central High School varsity volleyball team is named the 2025 3A Volleyball State Championship Tournament, held Nov. 13-15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. The Kardinals defeated the Nikiski Bulldogs 3-2 in a "rematch" championship game on Saturday, Nov. 15, securing their third state title in the last four years. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Volleyball Booster Club
Kenai Central takes home 3rd volleyball state title

The Kards defeated Nikiski in a rematch championship game on Saturday during the state tournament in Anchorage.

Soldotna High School wrestlers won six individual championships during the Lancer Smith Memorial wrestling tournament in Wasilla Nov. 14-15. Photo courtesy of SoHi Stars Wrestling on Facebook
SoHi wrestling sweeps Lancer Smith tourney, eyes state title

SoHi girls and boys took first and second place as teams, respectively.

Soldotna’s Gracelyn Altobelli attacks against Nikiski’s Addison Perkins on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Sports briefs: Soldotna volleyball claims third Northern Lights Region III title

The SoHi Stars will compete at the state tournament this weekend.

The Homer Mariners varsity football team celebrates their victory after the Division III state championships game on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Wasilla, Alaska. Photo provided by Justin Zank
Homer, Kenai football receive Division III All-State awards

Players on the Homer High School and Kenai Central High School varsity… Continue reading

The Homer Mariners varsity football team celebrates their victory after the Division III state championships game on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Wasilla, Alaska. Photo provided by Justin Zank
Homer football brings home back-to-back state titles

The Mariners defeated Barrow 20-0 on Saturday, winning the state championships for the second year in a row.

Homer's Nik Macauly runs past Kenai Central's Carson Cramer on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer football tops Kenai

The Homer football team defeated Kenai Central 44-6 on Saturday in Mid… Continue reading

tease
Saturday: Brown Bears top Mountain Kings, win 2 of 3 at Showcase

The Kenai River Brown Bears finished up play at the North American… Continue reading

tease
Kenai volleyball ties for 3rd in Gold Bracket at West Spiketacular

The Kenai Central volleyball team tied for third in the Gold Bracket… Continue reading

tease
Soldotna football tops Lathrop, captures 20th straight conference title

The Soldotna football team defeated Lathrop 27-14 on Friday in Railbelt Conference… Continue reading