A year ago at the Class 1A girls state basketball tournament, Katie Strong was reduced to hobbling.

Saturday afternoon, at tournament's end, she hopped with joy.

When the buzzer sounded on Port Lions' 49-30 win over Fort Yukon to seize the championship at Sullivan Arena, Strong locked arms with teammate Cierra Robustellini, screamed in delight and bunny-hopped to mid-court to join her teammates in celebration.

For Strong, jubilation had been a long time coming. In 2009, she injured her ankle in the Lions' opener at state, which reduced her team to just four players for a consolation game. Strong took the floor for the opening seconds of that loser-out game against Huslia -- that way, the Lions could officially start the game -- and Huslia, in a display of magnificent sportsmanship, decided to play the game 4 on 4.

Saturday, Strong played 31 minutes, 32 seconds in a compelling performance -- she came off the floor only for the last 28 seconds, when victory was securely in hand. Strong, a junior guard who last fall finished seventh in the state Class 123A cross-country running meet, used her non-stop energy to deliver 16 points and a game-high eight steals.

"It was really nice,'' Strong said. "I was able to show 'em what I can really do.''

Strong's father, Dana, Port Lions' coach, said his daughter took her injury last year especially hard, so much so that he occasionally joked to her about it to try to lighten the mood but didn't receive any light banter in return.

Before each of the Lions' three state-tournament games, Dana Strong said, he could see his daughter's determination.

"She was quiet before the games, but full of intensity,'' he said. "She was ready to get after it.''

The Lions, who won their first state title since 1985, punished Fort Yukon early -- Port Lions owned a 14-2 lead a minute and half into the second quarter -- and again beginning late in the third quarter.

Fort Yukon forward Kandace Carroll, who racked 74 points in the Eagles' first two games, made her first basket with 5:28 left in the second quarter. Her six points and Chassidy Herbert's six first-half points pulled the Eagles to within four points at halftime, when they trailed 20-16.

Fort Yukon, which only had six players, went on an 8-2 run to open the third quarter, which earned it a 24-22 lead. Carroll hit a bucket and made two free throws, then fed April Peter and Herbert for baskets.

But the game turned, for good, with 2:33 left in the quarter, when Carroll fouled out, which reduced her to tears. She sat on the bench, her left elbow propped on her left knee and her chin buried in her palm after leaving with 10 points and six rebounds.

Port Lions flourished in Carroll's absence -- the Kings outscored the Eagles 27-6 the rest of the way.

"It was easier on defense because our main goal was to guard her, keep the ball out of her hands,'' said Port Lions' Cierra Robustellini, who generated game highs of 18 points and 13 rebounds. "And on offense, the lane was wide open.''

Dana Strong said Port Lions' goal was to play suffocating defense and run as often on offense, all with the intention of tiring Carroll and forcing her into fouls.

"She's a great player,'' Strong said. "That's the best player we've seen all year.''

Fort Yukon's Herbert finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Still, the afternoon belonged to Port Lions and what Dana Strong called his team's "vindication.''

After game awards were handed out, the eight Port Lions players each held bouquets given to them by team supporters. Finally, the Kings could stop and smell the flowers.

"It feels really nice to redeem ourselves,'' Robustellini said.

Fort Yukon 2 14 10 4 -- 30

Port Lions 11 9 13 16 -- 49

Fort Yukon -- Peter 4, A. Herbert 2, Kar. Carroll 4, C. Herbert 10, Kan. Carroll 10.

Port Lions -- Robustellini 18, Boskofsky 3, M. Strong 6, K. Strong 16, Bjornn 4, Bendixen 2.

Alak 54, Kwethluk 40

Rhoda Aguvluk racked game highs of 21 points and six steals to spearhead Alak's 54-40 victory over Kwethluk to earn third place.

Josephine Nashookpuk added 13 points, and game highs of 10 rebounds and eight assists for Alak to counter her game-high 11 turnovers.

Twyla George paced Kwethluk with 13 points and Elena Rivers grabbed nine rebounds.

Kwethluk 6 5 15 14 -- 40

Alak 13 10 10 21 -- 54

Kwethluk -- J. George 9, T. George 13, Ke. Ayapan 2, Rivers 8, Michael 4, E. Phillip 4

Alak -- R. Aguvluk 21, Nayakik 14, Tagarook 2, Nashookpuk 13, Segevan 2, D.K. Aguvluk 2.

Shaktoolik 41, Tuluksak 24

Spotty shooting all around made for a bounty of rebounds, and Shaktoolik's dominance on the offensive glass triggered its 41-24 win over Tuluksak to capture fourth place.

Heather Saccheus plucked seven offensive rebounds among her game-high 21, and added 12 points for Shaktoolik. Michelle Saccheus delivered a game-high 20 points and 19 boards, including eight on the offensive glass.

Bertha Pavilla led Tuluksak scorers with 10 points, Jessica Wasska collected 14 rebounds and Megan Napoka gathered 10 boards.

The teams, which shot a combined 22.1-percent from the field, combined for 112 rebounds, 46 of them offensive.

Shaktoolik 9 11 16 5 -- 41

Tuluksak 7 8 2 7 -- 24

Shaktoolik -- Amaktoolik 7, H. Saccheus 12, M. Saccheus 20, Sagoonick 2.

Tuluksak -- Alexie 3, Jackson 4, Liskey 4, Napoka 3, B. Pavilla 10.