Noatak boys ride offensive onslaught to 1A title

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Robert Sheldon, of Noatak, goes for the basket as Chase Nay and Jacob Ahgook, of Nunamiut, defend in the championship game of the 1A boys Alaska State basketball tournament at the UAA Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday, March 17, 2018. (Bob Hallinen / ADN)

Like many of the Class 1A boys basketball teams that annually compete at the state tournament in Anchorage, the Noatak Lynx are a long way from home.

But they couldn't have looked more comfortable on the Alaska Airlines Center hardwood Saturday, cruising to the school's first championship since 1988.

Noatak, located about 600 miles northwest of Anchorage, scored 20 of the game's first 24 points and rolled past Nunamiut 71-35 to claim the crown for a second time. Dressed in St. Patrick's Day green and gold, the Lynx finished their season with a 27-1 record and allowed head coach Brianna Kirk to make state history.

Kirk played collegiately at UAF before returning to her hometown in 2016 and taking over as boys coach early this season. She is believed to be the second woman to lead a boys team to an Alaska state basketball championship, joining Kodiak's Amy Rakers, who won a Class 4A title in 2001.

"Her leadership really meant a lot to us," said Noatak junior Robert Sheldon, who dazzled with 23 points and 13 rebounds in nearly 30 minutes of playing time.

To her credit, Kirk knew coming in not to change how the Lynx play. Noatak is fast and full of confidence, as evidenced by an early onslaught that featured four  3-pointers in the first few minutes of play. Sheldon's second triple of the first quarter gave the Lynx a commanding 18-4 lead with three minutes left.

"These kids had already played so much in the offseason, open gyms and years of being together, that they already had the chemistry they needed," Kirk said. "I wasn't going to come in stop them from shooting. They've had something going for them since they were little kids, so I wasn't holding anybody back."

The Lynx led 25-6 after the first quarter, 36-14 at halftime and 56-31 at the end of third. By game's end, Noatak had completed an impressive four-day run in the state's largest city by winning four straight games and outscoring opponents 282-160.

Saturday's show was witnessed by a few thousand rowdy fans, something that wasn't lost on Sheldon.

"We're certainly not used to this kind of atmosphere, a large crowd like this," he said. "It does take a few minutes to let it all sink in."

[Aniak Halfbreeds claim 1A girls state basketball title, giving their village reason to celebrate]

Eight of Noatak's nine players scored, and senior Levi Mills (12 points), sophomore Amos Sage (12 points) and senior Joel Onalik (10 points) all hit double figures. Onalik joined Sheldon in double-double territory with 11 rebounds.

The Lynx held a 42-28 rebounding edge.

Nunamiut, located in Anaktuvuk Pass about 480 miles north of Anchorage, never found solid footing against Noatak's fast-paced attack. Sophomore Jacob Ahgook led the Amaguqs with a double double (11 points, 10 rebounds) in the school's second championship-game appearance. The first came in 2010.

"We did just about everything we could defensively, but (Noatak) made just about every shot," said Nunamiut coach Cody Rigney. "But we made it to the championship, which is something special when you think about the hundreds of (1A) schools which would happily take our place.

"Only two teams played today. It's incredible to have been one of them."

Kirk noted further significance in Noatak's first championship in 30 years. She said school principal Stan Van Amburg arrived at the school in 1988 and will leave at the end of this school year.

"It's huge for Noatak," Kirk said. "A welcome for Stan back then, and a farewell now. As for the team, I think there are a lot of important values they should take from this experience.

"It should remind them to never quit on their dreams."

Birchwood 56, Newhalen 41

Birchwood Christian wore down Newhalen's five-player team in the fourth quarter to capture third place with a 56-41 victory.

Birchwood, which got minutes from eight players, led by three after three quarters but pulled away in the fourth quarter by outscoring Newhalen 21-9.

Peter Swanberg powered Birchwood Christian with 17 points and nine rebounds. Newhalen, which had two players with four fouls late in the game, got a boost from Matthew Tretikoff's 17 points and eight rebounds.

King Cove 63, Shishmaref 59

Graydon Severian racked up 33 points and 17 rebounds to carry King Cove to fourth place with a 63-59 win over Shishmaref.

Gary Gould added 20 points for the winners, who limited Shishmaref to three points in the decisive third quarter. The Northern Lights were led by Fred Sinnok (22 points, 6 rebounds) and Edward Kokeok (18 points, 7 rebounds).