The Kenai Central girls and the Homer boys will both face tough matchups when the Class 3A state basketball tournament commences today at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
The Kardinals, the No. 5 seed, will face fourth-seeded Sitka at 8 a.m., while No. 6 Homer will take on No. 3 Valdez at 11 a.m.
The Kenai girls (16-9) also faced the Wolves in the first round of last year’s state tournament, and lost 57-27.
“They’re pretty tough, and I can’t say I was thrilled to draw them first once we got to state,” Kenai coach Jeff Swick said. “At the same time, everybody at state is pretty good. If it wasn’t them, it would have been somebody else and another set of problems.”
Sitka went 6-0 against Redington this season and 5-0 against Houston. The Kardinals went 2-0 against Redington but lost to Houston in early season play.
In that loss to the Wolves in the opening game of state last season, Sitka led 18-4 after the first quarter and 32-7 at halftime in a game the Wolves would win by 30.
“Last year, everybody was pretty nervous to start the game,” Swick said. “I think we held even in the second half.”
Swick said Kenai returns plenty of experience from last year. Sophomore Emma Beck, seniors Erin Koziczkowski and Logan Satathite, and junior Malerie Nunn all started last season. Everybody on the roster got to experience that Sitka game except for freshmen Sierra Hershberger and Kate Wisnewski.
“We’ve got to be ready from the tip, and hopefully we’ll be able to do that with experience,” Swick said.
The coach said the team got a nice boost by defeating Homer 38-27 for second place in the Peninsula Conference tournament March 12. Beck had 18 in the game, but the rest of the team stepped up as well when the star player got in foul trouble in the second half.
“That last game against Homer did a lot for our confidence,” Swick said. “Hopefully, playing a game like that will carry over into the state tournament.”
Swick said practices for the tournament have gone well, except for members of the team catching a cold that fortunately didn’t test positive as COVID-19.
The coach said last year’s tournament was in Palmer Middle School with the players all wearing masks. This time, players will be in the Alaska Airlines Center getting the full March Madness experience.
“Last year, we were kind of happy to be there,” Swick said. “I told them, ‘Let’s not be happy to just make an appearance. Let’s try and make some noise.’
“We’re hoping to come away with wins and have a good time doing it.”
The Homer boys (14-11) are making their first state tournament appearance since 2000. The Mariners and Buccaneers both lost to Houston and Ninilchik, and defeated Seward.
At the Peninsula Conference tournament, Homer overcame an opening day loss to Kenai to beat the Kardinals 62-39 in the second-place game for the state berth.
“We’re just excited to prepare and see what we can do in a couple weeks,” Homer head coach Weston Carroll said after winning the second-place game.
Class 3A state basketball tournament
at Alaska Airlines Center, Anchorage
GIRLS
Wednesday’s games
Game 1 — Monroe Catholic vs. Valdez, 12:30 p.m.
Game 2 — Sitka vs. Kenai Central, 8 a.m.
Game 3 — Barrow vs. Redington, 4:45 p.m.
Game 4 — Grace Christian vs. Bethel, 7:45 p.m.
Thursday’s games
Game 5 — Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 10:30 a.m.
Game 6 — Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 10:30 a.m.
Game 7 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3:15 p.m.
Game 8 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 4:45 p.m.
Friday’s game
Fourth-sixth place game — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 9:30 a.m.
Saturday’s games
Third-fifth place game — Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 9 a.m.
Championship — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 1 p.m.
BOYS
Wednesday’s games
Game 1 — Houston vs. Mt. Edgecumbe, 12:30 p.m.
Game 2 — Nome vs. Hutchison, 9:30 a.m.
Game 3 — Valdez vs. Homer, 11 a.m.
Game 4 — Grace Christian vs. Barrow, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday’s games
Game 5 — Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon
Game 6 — Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 7 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6:15 p.m.
Game 8 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7:45 p.m.
Friday’s game
Fourth-sixth place game — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 11 a.m.
Saturday’s games
Third-fifth place game — Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 10:30 a.m.
Championship — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 3 p.m.
