Connor Felchle hit a 3-pointer with .6 seconds left in the game to give Kenai Central a 48-45 victory over host Nikiski on Friday in Southcentral Conference play.
The two teams continue to be very close, as Kenai also recorded a nonconference, 64-58 win over the Bulldogs on Dec. 14.
The Kardinals led 12-8 after the first quarter and carried that three-point lead into halftime. Kenai then led 30-29 entering the final frame.
Adam Trujillo paced the Kardinals with 11 points. For the Bulldogs, Jace Kornstad pumped in 20 points, including five 3-pointers.
Nikiski girls 47, Kenai 38
Bethany Carstens had 21 points before fouling out to lead the host Bulldogs to a Southcentral Conference victory Friday.
Nikiski had defeated Kenai 50-28 on Dec. 14 before the Kardinals came back for a 42-41 victory on Jan. 4. Nikiski’s defense came up big, holding the Kardinals to 18 points through three quarters to put up a 17-point lead. When Kenai scored 20 in the final eight minutes, it was too late.
Elizabeth Hanson had 12 for Kenai, while Brooke Satathite added 10.
Soldotna girls 65, Palmer 26
The visiting Stars improved to 15-0 overall and 5-0 in the Northern Lights Conference with a trouncing of the Moose.
Ituau Tuisaula had 20 points to lead Soldotna, while Brittani Blossom had 19 and Aliann Schmidt had 14. For Palmer, Ellyse Russell had eight.
Soldotna boys 47, Palmer 43
The visiting Stars outscored the Moose 18-3 in the final quarter to notch a Saturday NLC victory.
Jersey Truesdell paced Soldotna with 21 points, including 14 in the final quarter.
For Palmer, Ronny Marshall had 12 points and Lavar Marshall added 11.
Seahawk Classic
The Seward girls finished 1-2, while the Seward boys finished 0-3 at the tournament in Seward. The Eielson boys and Hutchison girls took home the titles, while Unalaska was second in both tourneys.
In Saturday girls action, Unalaska topped Seward 39-33 in overtime. Kayla Villamor had 14 points for Unalaska, while Ashley Jackson had 12 and Riley Von Borstel added 11 for Seward.
In Saturday boys action, Unalaska toppled Seward 50-35. Trevor Wilson had 14 for the Raiders, while John Esnardo and Dallas Lane each had 11. For Seward, Max Pfieffenberger had 11, while Connor Spanos had 10.
Friday, the Hutchison boys notched a 59-56 victory over the hosts. Ross Matherly and Dean Frank each had 18 for Hutchison, while Max Pfieffenberger and Connor Spanos had 18 for Seward, and Trey Ingalls added 11.
In Friday girls play, Hutchison topped Seward 51-37. Bri Majors had 21 for the Hawks, while Javanna McCormick had 10 points. For Seward, Riley Von Borstel had 13 points and Ashley Jackson added 11.
Sitka girls 45, Homer 26
The host Wolves notched a nonconference victory over the Mariners on Friday
For Sitka, Jessica Davis had 10 points. Rylee Doughty led the Mariners with eight points.
Sitka notched a 45-18 victory Saturday.
Homer boys 54, Sitka 43
The visiting Mariners notched a nonconference victory over the Wolves on Friday.
Stanley Swoboda led a balanced Homer scoring attack with 12 points. For Sitka, CJ Taccad and John Arce had 10 points apiece.
Homer won 44-32 on Saturday.
Birchwood Christian girls 30, Ninilchik 27, OT
The Warriors received 10 points from Mariyan Becker in notching a Peninsula Conference win against the host Wolverines. Ninilchik had three players foul out of the game.
CIA girls 37, Homer JV 16
The host Eagles notched a nonconference win Friday. Adara Warren had 14 for CIA, while Sophia Nelson pitched in 10. Also for the Eagles, Anna Cizek had five, Anna Henderson had four, Jamie Hyatt had three and Anika Castenholtz had one.
Homer JV boys 33, CIA 28
The Mariners notched a nonconference victory over host Cook Inlet Academy on Friday.
For CIA, Mason Ziegler had eight points, while Lucas Cragg had six points, Hunter Moos, James Boyd and Josh Boyd had four points and Robert Walsh had two points.
CIA girls 38, Birchwood Christian 25
The host Eagles notched a Peninsula Conference victory Saturday.
Anna Henderson led CIA with 14 points, while Adara Warren had 11. For Birchwood, Kiara Sullivan had 13 points.
Birchwood Christian boys 46, CIA 17
The visiting Warriors rolled to a Peninsula Conference win Saturday.
Joel Swanberg paced Birchwood with 11, while Hunter Moos, Isaac Johnson and Josh Boyd had four points for CIA.
Ninilchik boys 57, Birchwood Christian 55, OT
Garrett Koch poured in 23 points and Jake Clark added 13 as the host Wolverines gritted out a Peninsula Conference victory Friday.
Joel Swanberg had 18 and Dalton Rogers had 14 for the Warriors.
Nenana Invitational Tournament
The Nikolaevsk girls and boys both took fifth place at the tournament after dropping the third-place game Saturday.
The Nikolaevsk boys dropped a 56-32 decision to Susitna Valley, taking a 13-6 lead after the first quarter, but getting outscored after that. Michael Trail had 19 points to lead the Warriors.
The Nikolaevsk girls lost 40-37 to Su Valley. Justina Fefelov had 12 points to lead the Warriors, while Markiana Yakunin pitched in with 11 points.
The Nikolaevsk girls and boys dropped semifinal games Friday.
The Warriors boys lost 102-50 to Tikigaq. Michael Trail had 13 points, while JD Mumey had 12 and Justin Trail added 11. The Warriors play for third place at the tournament today.
The Nikolaevsk girls lost 51-33 to Nenana. Elizabeth Fefelov had 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Warriors. Nikolaevsk plays Susitna Valley at 3:30 p.m. Saturday for third place in the tournament.
The Nikolaevsk girls and boys won the sportsmanship award at the tournament. Michael Trail made all-tourney for the boys, while Elizabeth Fefelov and Markiana Yakunin earned that honor for the girls.
Friday boys
Kardinals 48, Bulldogs 45
Kenai 12 11 7 18 — 48
Nikiski 8 11 10 16 — 45
KENAI CENTRAL (48) — Efta 4, Felchle 6, Baker 6, Bezdecny 9, McEnerney 8, Stockton 3, Trujillo 11, Pitsch 1. Totals — 17 9-13 48.
NIKISKI (45) — Mysing 6, Weathers 6, Smith 0, Kornstad 20, Handley 4, Litke 5, Eiter 4. Totals — 15 6-10 45.
3-point goals — Kenai 5 (Felchle 2, Bezdecny, McEnerney, Stockton); Nikiski 9 (Kornstad 5, Weathers 2, Mysing, Litke). Team fouls — Kenai 15, Nikiski 14. Fouled out — none.
Wolverines 57, Warriors 55, OT
Birchwood 10 12 13 13 7 — 55
Ninilchik 13 14 12 9 9 — 57
BIRCHWOOD CHRISTIAN (57) — Reich 4, Swanberg 18, Huston 0, Cramer 2, Nunley 8, Hanson 3, Rogers 14, Brisson 2, Palmer 4. Totals — 21 8-11 57.
NINILCHIK (57) — Nelson 7, Presley 0, Hadro 8, Koch 23, Clark 13, Moore 0, Devilla 0, Lemons 0, Moto 0, Mumey 6. Totals — 20 14-36 57.
3-point goals — Birchwood (Nunley 2, Rogers 2, Swanberg); Ninilchik 3 (Koch 2, Hadro). Team fouls — Birchwood 25, Ninilchik 17. Fouled out — Nunley, Rogers, Clark, Mumey.
Hawks 59, Seahawks 56
Hutchison 14 15 19 11 — 59
Seward 18 12 2 24 — 56
HUTCHISON (59) — Matherly 18, D. Frank 18, Charlie 0, Young 6, P. Silva 7, Dean 0, O. Frank 0, Uribe 6, Kesey 4. Totals — 21 9-13 59.
SEWARD (56) — Basalo 0, Koster 4, Moriarity 1, Cronin 2, Ingalls 11, Pfieffenberger 18, Spanos 18, Jarvis 0, Nilsson 2. Totals — 21 9-14 56.
3-point goals — Hutchison 8 (D. Frank 4, Matherly 2, Young, P. Silva); Seward 5 (Ingall 3, Pfieffenberger, Spanos). Team fouls — Hutchison 16, Seward 16. Fouled out — Kesey.
Mariners 54, Wolves 43
Homer 14 14 10 16 — 54
Sitka 10 12 9 12 — 43
HOMER (54) — Beachy 0, Adkins 2, Reutov 8, T. McGhee 7, Raymond 2, Anderson 7, Knapp 8, J. McGhee 8, Swoboda 12. Totals — 18 16-29 54.
SITKA (43) — Dumag 5, Eubanks 3, Taccad 10, Arce 10, Flores 4, Morrison 5, Lass 3, Miller 3. Totals — 14 11-17 43.
3-point goals — Homer 2 (Swoboda 2); Sitka 4 (Dumag, Eubanks, Taccad, Arce). Team fouls — Homer 16, Sitka 26. Fouled out — Miller.
Friday girls
Bulldogs 47, Kardinals 38
Kenai 7 5 6 20 — 38
Nikiski 8 15 12 12 — 47
KENAI CENTRAL (38) — Calvert 8, Gallaway 0, Hamilton 4, Maw 0, Hanson 12, Streiff 0, L. Satathite 4, B. Satathite 10. Totals — 11 14-20 38.
NIKISKI (47) — Jeffreys 0, Wik 3, L. Carstens 7, Bostic 8, Johnson 0, B. Carstens 21, Epperheimer 0, Clark 4, Druesdow 4. Totals — 18 6-15 47.
3-point goals — Kenai 2 (Calvert 2); Nikiski 5 (B. Carstens 3, Wik, L. Carstens). Team fouls — Kenai 17, Nikiski 23. Fouled out — B. Carstens.
Warriors 30, Wolverines 27, OT
Birchwood 2 12 6 6 4 — 30
Ninilchik 7 8 7 4 1 — 27
BIRCHWOOD CHRISTIAN (30) — Clark 9, S. Becker 1, Tiner 4, Denny 2, Sullivan 4, M. Becker 10. Totals — 10 10-30 30.
NINILCHIK (27) — Koch 5, Ra. Okonek 2, Roebuck 6, A. Calabrese 2, Ofstad 2, Re. Okonek 3, Jasper 0, Corey 7, S. Calabrese 0. Totals — 11 4-19 27.
3-point goals — Ninilchik 1 (Koch). Team fouls — Birchwood 13, Ninilchik 27. Fouled out — S. Becker, Koch, Ra. Okonek, Roebuck.
Hawks 51, Seahawks 37
Hutchison 10 19 13 9 — 51
Seward 10 15 4 8 — 37
HUTCHISON (51) — Edwards 7, Kriska 3, McCormick 10, Titus 6, Taylor 2, Rosenthal 2, Majors 21. Totals — 14 15-25 51.
SEWARD (37) — Lemme 2, Ambrosiani 0, Schilling 0, Von Borstel 13, Sieverts 5, Jackson 11, Dougherty 0, Sewell 4, Siemanski 2. Totals — 11 13-23 37.
3-point goals — Hutchison 7 (Majors 5, McCormick 2); Seward 2 (Von Borstel 2). Team fouls — Hutchison 14, Seward 16. Fouled out — Von Borstel, Sieverts.
Wolves 45, Mariners 26
Homer 9 8 3 6 — 26
Sitka 7 18 9 9 — 45
HOMER (26) — Rhodes 0, Inama 2, Bishop 7, Bales 2, Doughty 8, Todd 0, Parish 0, Anderson 0, Carroll 7. Totals — 8 9-14 26.
SITKA (45) — T. Smith 2, Elefante 6, Vidad 4, Jensen 5, Morrison 2, M. Smith 1, McArthur 7, Forrester 7, Brady 2, Davis 10. Totals — 19 6-13 45.
3-point goals — Homer 1 (Doughty); Sitka 1 (Jensen). Team fouls — Homer 16, Sitka 13. Fouled out — none.
Saturday girls
Raiders 39, Seahawks 33, OT
Unalaska 9 6 8 7 9 — 39
Seward 7 2 16 5 3 — 33
UNALASKA (39) — Ka. Villamor 14, Ki. Villamor 7, Megalong 2, Bucang 0, McWilliams 0, Tungal 4, Miceta 3, Wilson 9. Totals — 15 7-19 39.
SEWARD (33) — Lemme 0, Ambrosiani 4, Schilling 0, Von Borstel 11, Sieverts 6, Jackson 12, Sewell 0. Totals — 12 6-10 33.
3-point goals — Unalaska 1 (Villamor); Seward 3 (Von Borstel 2, Jackson). Team fouls — Unalaska 13, Seward 19. Fouled out — Megalong, Sieverts.
Eagles 38, Warriors 25
Birchwood 7 6 6 6 — 25
CIA 12 9 8 9 — 38
BIRCHWOOD CHRISTIAN (25) — Clark 2, S. Becker 4, M. Becker 0, Tiner 4, Denny 0, Cox 0, Sullivan 13, Buyse 2, Elkins 0. Totals — 12 1-12 25.
COOK INLET ACADEMY (38) — G. Nelson 0, Henderson 14, Hyatt 0, S. Nelson 5, Dohse 2, A. Nelson 0, Castenholz 0, Cragg 0, Cizek 6, Hammond 0, Warren 11. Totals — 16 4-12 38.
3-point goals — CIA 2 (Henderson, Warren). Team fouls — Birchwood 11, CIA 9. Fouled out — none.
Stars 65, Moose 26
Soldotna 14 19 16 16 — 65
Palmer 8 6 4 8 — 26
SOLDOTNA (65) — McGillivray 2, Buckbee 0, Blossom 19, A. Schmidt 14, Bouschor 4, Tuisaula 20, Holland 2, Crosby-Schneider 2, D. Schmidt 2, Fischer 0. Totals — 25 11-14 65.
PALMER (26) — Maclean 2, Bushey 3, Pettingill 0, Lundin 0, Uschmann 2, Bonshetler 6, Russell 8, Patton-Meyer 3, Anderson 0, Toro 0, Umbarger 2, Dmatak 0. Totals — 10 4-14 26.
3-point goals — Soldotna 4 (Blossom 4); Palmer 2 (Bushey, Russell). Team fouls — Soldotna 13, Palmer 14. Fouled out — none.
Saturday boys
Raiders 50, Seahawks 35
Unalaska 6 26 11 7 — 50
Seward 9 10 6 10 — 35
UNALASKA (50) — A. Esnardo 6, J. Esnardo 11, Nguyen 3, Honka 2, Wilson 14, Villena 0, Lee 3, Lane 11. Totals — 19 4-6 50.
SEWARD (35) — Basalo 0, Spanos 10, Koster 0, Moriarity 7, Cronin 0, Ingalls 3, Pfieffenberger 11, Jarvis 0, Nilsson 4. Totals — 15 2-6 35.
3-point goals — Unalaska 8 (A. Esnardo 2, J. Esnardo 2, Wilson 2, Nguyen, Lee); Seward 2 (Moriarity, Ingalls, Pfieffenberger). Team fouls — Unalaska 10, Seward 11. Fouled out — none.
Warriors 46, Eagles 17
Birchwood 10 12 15 9 — 46
CIA 7 4 4 2 — 17
BIRCHWOOD CHRISTIAN (46) — Reich 5, Carruba 0, Murphy 0, Swanberg 11, Hover 0, Eickmann 0, McCrum 0, Huston 0, Cramer 0, Nunley 9, Hanson 7, Rogers 8, Brisson 0, Palmer 6, McCrum 0. Totals — 20 4-7 46.
COOK INLET ACADEMY (17) — Moos 4, Ja. Boyd 0, Johnson 4, Cragg 3, Leaf 0, Walsh 0, Van De Grift 0, Zeigler 2, Jo. Boyd 4. Totals — 7 2-4 17.
3-point goals — Birchwood 2 (Reich, Nunley); CIA 1 (Cragg). Team fouls — Birchwood 11, CIA 11. Fouled out — none.
Stars 47, Moose 43
Soldotna 10 11 8 18 — 47
Palmer 15 11 14 3 — 43
SOLDOTNA (47) — Rich 0, Morrison 6, Hanson 3, Chumley 8, Truesdell 21, Kant 0, Wells 2, Rosin 0, Michael 8.
PALMER (43) — L. Marshall 11, Titus 9, Rankin 5, C. Helm 0, R. Marshall 12, E. Helm 2, Brown 4.
3-point goals — Soldotna 5 (Truesdell 3, Chumley 2); Palmer 5 (Titus 3, Rankin, L. Marshall). Team fouls — Soldotna 14, Palmer 13. Fouled out — Titus, Rankin.
Kenai Central’s Jaiden Streiff is defended by Nikiski’s Kaycee Bostic and America Jeffreys on Friday at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
