The Kenai Central boys won and the Nikiski boys lost Thursday at the Mountain City Basketball Invitational in Anchorage.

The Kardinals improved to 2-2 with a 70-35 victory over Tikigaq.

Riel Castillo paced five Kards in double figures with 17 points, while Miles Metteer had 14, Mason Tunseth had 12, Reid Titus had 11 and Eli Smith had 10. Also, Ben Harris had 5 and Carter Felchle had 1. 

For the Harpooners, Aqquilluk Hank had 10, Ephraim Nash and Micha Kinneeveauk had 9, Luther Lane had 4, Dominic Johnson had 2 and Wilson Stein had 1.

Kenai faces San Diego Christian in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Friday. San Diego Christian defeated Houston 74-22 in the first round.

The Nikiski boys opened their season with a 66-59 loss to Kotzebue.

Nikiski head coach Reid Kornstad wrote in a text message that Kevin Love led the way by covering Kotzebue’s best player and shouldering the scoring load.

Kornstad added that Kameron Bird played well through sickness and Dylan Hall provided good defensive pressure on the Huskies guards.

The Bulldogs play Hutchison at 12:30 p.m. Friday in the consolation bracket. Hutchison lost 88-46 to Mountain City Christian Academy.