Staff report
The host Homer boys got a big game from River Mann in defeating Seward 61-45 on Saturday.
Homer moves to 11-2 and avenges one of its defeats this season, improving to 2-1 against Seward. The Seahawks fall to 8-5.
The Mariners had a solid first quarter, outscoring Seward 15-5, and were able to make that lead stand up for the rest of the game.
Mann had eight of his 22 points in that pivotal opening frame. Clayton Beachy added 13 for Homer, while Parker Lowney had 12 and Eyoab Knapp had eight.
For Seward, Max Pfeiffenberger pumped in 12 points, while Sam Koster had 11 and Tommy Cronin had 10.
Seward girls 26, Homer 21
The visiting Seahawks used a stout defense to top the Mariners for the first time in three tries.
Seward moves to 4-9, while Homer falls to 8-5.
The Seahawks led 4-0 after the first quarter, but the game was tied at 7 at halftime. Seward then took a 19-15 lead into the third quarter.
Hannah Schilling led all scorers with 10 points, while Laura Inama paced the Mariners with seven.
Nikiski girls 61, Houston 41
The visiting Bulldogs improved to 5-9 by winning their first game against competition off the Kenai Peninsula of the season.
Nikiski led 22-6 after the first quarter, with Lillian Carstens pouring in 14 of her 32 points in the frame. Bailey Epperheimer added 10 for Nikiski, while Kinlee Jeffreys had seven, Ember Nelson had four, Shelby Burman had three, Emma Weeks had two, Shylea Sutton had one and Maggie Grenier had one.
Houston boys 79, Nikiski 51
The host Hawks grabbed an 18-6 lead after the first quarter and did not look back.
The Bulldogs dropped to 1-14 after venturing beyond peninsula competition for the first time.
Austin Stafford had 18 points to lead the Bulldogs, while Drew Handley had 17, Austin Sutton had five, Caileb Payne had three, Simon Grenier had three, Braden Porter had three and Brady Bostic had two.
Ninilchik boys 72, Susitna Valley 53
The visiting Wolverines won their ninth straight game after losing their senior opener, and have now scored 70 points or more in seven of those victories.
Landon Colburn had 27 to lead the Wolverines, while Jaylin Scott had 18 and Cole Hadro had 10. Also for Ninilchik, Tom Nelson had six, George Nelson had five, Blake Lemons had four and Cooper Adams added two.
Susitna Valley girls 42, Ninilchik 20
The visiting Wolverines dropped to 3-6 with the loss to the Rams.
Ninilchik led 22-13 after a quarter and 37-20 at halftime.
Saturday girls
Seahawks 26, Mariners 21
Seward 4 3 12 7 —26
Homer 0 7 8 6 —21
SEWARD (26) — Ingalls 0, Schilling 10, Jagielski 5, Siemanski 5, Dougherty 0, Cronin 0, Ambrosiani 6.
HOMER (21) — Rhodes 0, Walls 0, Harris 0, M. Reutov 0, Shelby 4, Inama 7, Morris 0, Ellison 2, Hatfield 2, K. Reutov 0, Smude 6.
Saturday boys
Mariners 61, Seahawks 45
Seward 5 15 12 13 —45
Homer 15 16 14 16 —61
SEWARD (45) — Mullaly 0, Koster 11, Cronin 10, Ingalls 6, Pfeiffenberger 12, Deboard 6, N. Ambrosiani 0, Senecal 0, Davis 0, Spanos 0.
HOMER (61) — Smith 0, Beachy 13, Etzwiler 0, Edens 0, Lowney 12, Carroll 0, Knapp 8, Irons 0, Mann 22, Tennison 4, Raymond 2.