As the nine girls on the Alak basketball team began celebrating their 1A state championship Wednesday afternoon with a bench-side group hug, the group got a whole lot bigger.
Face-painted boys, their mugs colored red and white, raced down from the Sullivan Arena stands and jumped in on the joy. A community rejoiced, and that's how in goes in Alaska small school hoops, where titles are not cherished solely by athletes, coaches and administrators, but savored by the entire town.
So it was after Alak's 47-33 victory over Akiachak -- the Huskies' mascot even lost his head, taking it off to get in on the hugs.
"That was a lot of fun,'' Alak's Stephanie Aguvluk said after the celebration mellowed a bit. "Most of them made reservations (to fly to Anchorage) a couple of weeks ago.''
Aguvluk was listed on the score sheet as a guard, center and forward -- and that's about right. She scored a game-high 12 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished a game high-tying three assists and swiped a couple of steals.
Rhoda Aguvluk added 11 points, Jo-Jo Nashookpuk provided nine and Allison Segevan collected a game-high 10 rebounds.
Nashookpuk is just a freshman, but she played with a poise that was relatively unwavering in a frenetic game where everyone but her often seemed to be in a hurry. She was one of Alak's three all-tournament picks, along with Stephanie Aguvluk and Alyssa Agnasagga, who furnished five points and four rebounds Wednesday.
Nashookpuk's 44 points in three games led Alak.
"She's good, and she's going to be good for three more years,'' Stephanie Aguvluk said.
Akiachak led 15-14 early in the second quarter, but Alak stormed back to take a 26-17 halftime lead and then never let its lead get to less than seven points.
Lucienne Jackson led Akiachak with 11 points, and Katelyn Kinegak added seven.
For Alak coach Edna Ahmaogak, the championship proved another step in her team's improvement in her three seasons. The Huskies lost in the first round of their regional two years ago and lost in the first round of the state championship last year.
"It was good to come in and make it past the first round ... to show that we are a good team,'' Ahmaogak said. "I am very close to our seniors.
"I've known them since they were young, young girls. They have always been very respectful, and they come to practice every day ready to run as fast as they can. These girls are very special to me because they are my family.''
And coach and players alike don't just play compete for one another, but for a community too.
Akiachak 9 8 8 8 -- 33
Alak 12 14 9 12 -- 47
Akiachak -- James 4, Schneider 3, Jackson 11, Kinegak 7, Kasayulie 2.
Alak -- R. Aguvluk 11, S. Aguvluk 12, Ahmaogak 6, Nashookpuk 9, Agnasagga 5, Segevan 2, Tagarook 2.
Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.
Kiana 76, Golovin 24 (3rd place)
Kiana raced to a 27-2 first-quarter lead and cruised from there to easily claim third place with a lopsided win over Golovin.
Marisa Atoruk poured in 23 points, Julie Reed added 21 and Kristy Walton had 14 for the Lynx, who entered the tournament as the defending champs.
Sheralyn Sockpealuk dropped in 14 points for Golovin.
Huslia 45, Napaskiak 30 (4th place)
Huslia broke open a close game with a big third quarter to beat Napaskiak in the game for fourth place.
Lois Vent and Samantha Sam combined for 20 points for Huslia, which used a 15-4 third quarter to erase Napaskiak's 19-18 halftime lead. Ashley Evan topped Napaskiak with 12 points.
By DOYLE WOODY
dwoody@adn.com