Sports Briefs

Watkins, Merkes win at Tsalteshi Scramble

James Watkins of Kenai Central and Maranda Merkes of Soldotna won individual titles in 6-kilometer classical cross-country ski races Wednesday at the Tsalteshi Scramble at Skyview High School.

Watkins won the boys race in 22 minutes, 20 seconds, crossing the finish line just before Skyview's Kade Cooper (22:20) and SoHi's IntiMayo Harbison (22:21).

Merkes finished the girls race in 27:04, topping teammate D.Anne Martin (28:14) and Kenai Central's Michelle Klaben (28:47).

Tsalteshi Scramble - Wednesday

Boys

1. James Watkins, Ken, 22:20; 2. Kade Cooper, Sky, 22:20; 3. IntiMayo Harbison, Sol, 22:21; 4. Evan Atchley, Ken, 22:30; 5. Dillon

Jenson, Sol, 22:50; 6. Bud Sparks, Sky, 23:47; 7. Joe Rife, Sol, 24:51; 8. Tyler Cooper, Ken, 25:05; 9. Olen Danielson, Sky, 25:16; 10.

Isaac Cryer, Ken, 25:21.

Girls

1. Maranda Merkes, Sol, 27:04; 2. D.Anne Martin, Sol, 28:14; 3. Michelle Klaben, Ken, 28:47; 4. Elisha Hollers, Sky, 30:12; 5. Tamlyn

Silva, Sky, 30:16; 6. Catherine Wolk, Sky, 30:19; 7. Olivia Pfeiffer, Ken, 30:51; 8. Olivia Fair, Ken, 30:55; 9. Annalise Theisen, Ken,

31:07; 10. Vanessa Anderson, Ken, 31:13.

KCHS girls win Shootout opener

Morgan Wensley scored 17 points and Raquel Young added 14 as the Kenai Central girls basketball team beat South 51-34 on the opening night of the 2011 Dimond Lady Lynx Prep Shootout Tournament at Dimond on Wednesday.

Wensley was 6-of-13 from the field and pulled down 10 rebounds, while Young was 6-of-8 with seven rebounds.

The Kardinals shot 50 percent from 3-point range, hitting 5-of-10, and held a 14-2 lead after the first quarter.

Kenai Central faces either Nome or Juneau at 4:30 p.m. today. Those squads squared off Wednesday, but results were unavailable at press time.