Joey Klecka

Nikolaevsk, Ninilchik girls finish seasons with victories

The Ninilchik girls sent out their senior class with victory Saturday at the Class 1A state tournament consolation championship at the Alaska Airlines Center in… Continue reading

Friday: Ninilchik, Nikolaevsk boys set up all-peninsula final

Friday’s semifinal at the Class 1A March Madness boys state tournament featured teams of stark contrast. On one end of the court stood the Anaktuvuk… Continue reading

Ninilchik, Nikolaevsk boys set up all-Peninsula 1A state hoops title clash

Friday's semifinal at the Class 1A March Madness boys state tournament featured teams of stark contrast. On one end of the court stood the Anaktuvuk… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Ninilchik forward Austin White (33) shoots amid a scrum of King Cove defenders Thursday at the Class 1A March Madness state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.

Ninilchik, Nikolaevsk boys roll into semis

Playing on the biggest stage thus far in their high school basketball careers, the Ninilchik boys should have been a nervous group Thursday morning. Instead,… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Ninilchik forward Austin White (33) shoots amid a scrum of King Cove defenders Thursday at the Class 1A March Madness state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikolaevsk senior guard Megan Hickman drives to the rim against Buckland defender Rosaline Hadley Thursday at the Class 1A March Madness state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Nikolaevsk girls lose, Ninilchik girls win at state

A fifth straight appearance at the big dance will once again yield no state crown for the Nikolaevsk girls basketball squad. In a rematch with… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikolaevsk senior guard Megan Hickman drives to the rim against Buckland defender Rosaline Hadley Thursday at the Class 1A March Madness state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikolaevsk senior Serafima Kalugin attempts a layup against Newhalen Wednesday at the Class 1A March Madness state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage. The Warriors pulled off a 46-42 win.

Nikolaevsk girls win at state; Ninilchik girls come up just short

The experience of four straight state tournament runs left the Nikolaevsk girls basketball team in a good spot Wednesday at the Alaska Airlines Arena in… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikolaevsk senior Serafima Kalugin attempts a layup against Newhalen Wednesday at the Class 1A March Madness state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage. The Warriors pulled off a 46-42 win.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Ninilchik guard Tyler Presley looks for a way around St. Mary's defender Mitchell Luke Wednesday at the Class 1A March Madness state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.

Nikolaevsk, Ninilchik boys move to winner’s bracket on Day 1

The St. Mary’s Eagles were hacking away at 6-foot-8 Ninilchik junior Austin White, and he hacked back.White posted a double-double by halftime and finished with… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Ninilchik guard Tyler Presley looks for a way around St. Mary's defender Mitchell Luke Wednesday at the Class 1A March Madness state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Seldovia guard Aidan Philpot guards Ninilchik forward Austin White in Friday night's Peninsula Conference boys championship game at Homer High School.

Class 1A peninsula schools set for state tourney

Among the four Kenai Peninsula schools that are headed to the Class 1A state basketball tournament this week, the biggest common denominator is the lack… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Seldovia guard Aidan Philpot guards Ninilchik forward Austin White in Friday night's Peninsula Conference boys championship game at Homer High School.

Southcentral girls: Grace knocks off Homer for title

Saturday night, with head coach Ward Romans standing on his new home floor, the Grace Christian girls basketball team captured their first Southcentral Conference championship… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski senior Nathan Carstens (center) attempts to swat away a rebound from Grace guard Nate Salima (left) in Friday's semifinal contest at the Southcentral Conference tournament at Grace Christian High.

Southcentral boys: WPI berth gives Nikiski boys hope

The Nikiski boys capped a doubleheader hoops Saturday with a dominant 74-39 victory over Seward in the Southcentral Conference third-place game, but the Bulldogs were… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski senior Nathan Carstens (center) attempts to swat away a rebound from Grace guard Nate Salima (left) in Friday's semifinal contest at the Southcentral Conference tournament at Grace Christian High.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Seward guard Thomas Zweifel loses the ball on a drive to the basket in Friday's semifinal game against ACS at the Southcentral Conference tournament at Grace Christian High.

Homer girls clinch state berth; Nikiski, Seward boys lose in semis

The Homer girls had to do it the hard way, but they ultimately earned what they wanted. The Mariners survived a scare in Friday’s semifinal… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Seward guard Thomas Zweifel loses the ball on a drive to the basket in Friday's semifinal game against ACS at the Southcentral Conference tournament at Grace Christian High.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central forward Garrett Fitt (24) shoots over Soldotna defenders Derek Evans (23) and Caleb Spence Thursday at the Northern Lights Conference tournament at Palmer High School.

Kenai boys, SoHi girls avenge losses at NLC Day 1

The third time was the charm for the Soldotna girls and Kenai Central boys basketball teams.After being swept in two regular season games by their… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central forward Garrett Fitt (24) shoots over Soldotna defenders Derek Evans (23) and Caleb Spence Thursday at the Northern Lights Conference tournament at Palmer High School.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski forward Hallie Riddall looks for an opening against Grace Christian in a Southcentral Conference game Feb. 18 at Nikiski High School.

Southcentral hoops preview: Homer girls on path to state again

With the wild variety of scenarios that could play out in any season-ending hoops tournament, coaches are never at ease with their team making it… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski forward Hallie Riddall looks for an opening against Grace Christian in a Southcentral Conference game Feb. 18 at Nikiski High School.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Seldovia guard Aidan Philpot guards Ninilchik forward Austin White in Friday night's Peninsula Conference boys championship game at Homer High School.

Ninilchik boys win Peninsula Conference title

A year ago, the Seldovia boys brought their hometown its first state basketball championship after a rapid rise to the top of the Peninsula Conference… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Seldovia guard Aidan Philpot guards Ninilchik forward Austin White in Friday night's Peninsula Conference boys championship game at Homer High School.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Ninilchik senior Krista Sinclair (21) lets loose her emotions after helping the Ninilchik Wolverines claim the Peninsula Conference girls championship Friday night at Homer High School.

Ninilchik girls top Nikolaevsk for Peninsula Conference title

Tired, disheveled, a bit banged up, but with joyous expressions on their faces, the Ninilchik girls basketball squad celebrated Friday night like the old days.… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Ninilchik senior Krista Sinclair (21) lets loose her emotions after helping the Ninilchik Wolverines claim the Peninsula Conference girls championship Friday night at Homer High School.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central's Hannah Drury rips the ball from Soldotna's Melia Miller as Kenai's Alexis Baker helps Saturday at Soldotna High School.

Kenai, SoHi split regular season finales on hardwood

The Kenai Central boys won the first half, but the Soldotna boys won the war Saturday afternoon at Soldotna High School.SoHi rallied from a 13-point… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central's Hannah Drury rips the ball from Soldotna's Melia Miller as Kenai's Alexis Baker helps Saturday at Soldotna High School.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion (From left to right) Soldotna forward Derek Evans, Palmer forward Michael Kluting and Soldotna guard Eli Sheridan jostle for the ball Friday at Soldotna High School.

Palmer basketball sweeps SoHi

The Soldotna boys basketball team found trouble Friday in the form of the Palmer Moose, which stomped the Stars in a 58-39 Northern Lights Conference… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion (From left to right) Soldotna forward Derek Evans, Palmer forward Michael Kluting and Soldotna guard Eli Sheridan jostle for the ball Friday at Soldotna High School.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna guard Kendra Brush shoots against Nikiski defender Hallie Riddall (10) Thursday at Nikiski High School.

SoHi cagers sweep Nikiski in close games

A late surge propelled the Soldotna boys to a 75-66 nonconference victory over Nikiski on Thursday night at Nikiski High School, and the timing couldn’t… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna guard Kendra Brush shoots against Nikiski defender Hallie Riddall (10) Thursday at Nikiski High School.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna guard Caleb Spence splits a few Colony defenders for a layup Saturday at Soldotna High School. The Stars beat the Knights 63-49.

Soldotna hoops splits with Colony, swept by Wasilla

Tied at 29 apiece at halftime, the Soldotna boys knew a spectacular second half would be needed to beat a team that has gotten the… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna guard Caleb Spence splits a few Colony defenders for a layup Saturday at Soldotna High School. The Stars beat the Knights 63-49.

Skiers head to state with high hopes

Warm temperatures, brown grass, puddles of water, ungodly sticky Klister, patches of bare dirt.That is the picture that has been painted over and over again… Continue reading