The Kardinals protected home court Thursday night with a pair of nonconference victories over the Seward Seahawks.

The Kenai Central boys dominated en route to a 46-31 win, a preview of next year, when the Kards are slated to drop into the Class 3A division of basketball.

Junior Adam Trujillo led the way for Kenai with 13 points, while senior Luke Beiser chipped in 11.

Senior Zen Petrosius hit 7 of 15 free throws to lead Seward with 15 points.

Despite poor shooting from the free throw line from both teams — Kenai hit 3 of 17 and Seward went 13 for 30 — it was the Kards getting out to a fast start by shutting out Seward in the first quarter 11-0.

Kenai led 24-7 at halftime and 41-15 after three quarters. Seward got some of that back by outscoring Kenai 16-5 in the final eight minutes.

Kenai girls 46, Seward 37

Earlier in the night, the Kardinal girls steadily outpaced the Seahawks throughout a tight contest.

Calvert hit four 3’s en route to scoring a team-high 15 points. Brooke Satathite hit four buckets in the first quarter for eight points, helping Kenai stake out a 28-21 halftime lead, but was stuck in foul trouble most of the way and later fouled out, finishing with nine points.

Riley VonBorstel scored a game-high 17 points for Seward, while teammate Ashley Jackson went 9 for 12 from the free throw line to finish with 15.

Boys

Kardinals 46, Seahawks 31

Seward 0 7 8 16 —31

Kenai 11 13 17 5 —46

SEWARD (31) — Koster 1 1-2 3, Moriarty 0 2-4 2, S. Estes 2 0-0 4, C. Estes 0 2-4 2, Ingalls 0 0-0 0, Spanos 2 0-0 4, Pfeiffenberger 0 0-0 0, Jarvis 0 1-6 1, McMurray 0 0-0 0, Petrosius 4 7-14 15. Totals 9 13-30 31.

KENAI (46) — R. Riddall 1 0-2 2, Efta 0 1-2 1, Felchle 1 1-3 4, Baker 1 0-0 2, Stockton 0 0-2 0, Tuttle 2 0-1 4, T. Riddall 0 0-2 0, Beiser 5 1-3 11, Goodman 2 0-0 4, Trujillo 6 1-2 13, Strende 1 0-0 2, McEnerney 1 0-0 3. Totals 19 3-17 46.

3-point goals — Kenai 1 (McEnerney); Seward 0.

Team fouls — Kenai 22, Seward 17. Fouled out — C. Estes, Jarvis.

Girls

Kardinals 46, Seahawks 37

Seward 12 9 11 5 —37

Kenai 14 14 12 6 —46

SEWARD (37) — Dow 0 0-0 0, Ambrosiani 1 0-0 2, Terry 0 1-2 1, VonBorstel 5 5-7 17, Jackson 3 9-12 15, Brewi 0 0-0 0, Casagranda 0 2-2 2, Terry 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 17-23 37.

KENAI (46) — Calvert 5 1-3 15, Hamilton 0 0-0 0, Maw 2 0-0 4, Eurlich 0 0-0 0, Hanson 2 0-2 4, Paxton 4 0-2 8, Carrasco 3 0-2 6, Satathite 4 1-2 9, Streiff 0 0-0 0, Severson 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 2-11 46.

3-point goals — Kenai 4 (Calvert 4); Seward 2 (VonBorstel 2).

Team fouls — Kenai 19, Seward 12. Fouled out — Satathite.

Kenai Central sophomore Kailey Hamilton reaches for a rebound amid a group of Kenai and Seward players Thursday night at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)