Two girls basketball teams from Anchorage will play for state championships Saturday at Palmer High. For one, it’s a chance to win their first title in 43 years. For the other, it’s a chance to win their fourth straight.
The Bartlett Golden Bears, whose only state titles came in 1977 and 1978, will face Lathrop at 5:45 p.m. for the Class 4A championship.
The Anchorage Christian Lions will be chasing their fourth straight Class 3A crown when they take on Sitka at 1 p.m.
Bartlett held off Ketchikan 51-46 in a Friday semifinal game to remain undefeated and advance to the championship game.
Amelia ‘Uhila and Adam Kaganak each tossed in 15 points for the Golden Bears, and ‘Uhila made it a double-double by collecting 12 rebounds. Kaganak came close with eight boards.
In the title game, Bartlett will face a Lathrop team led by TT Tagovailoa, who pumped in 29 points in a 65-60 semifinal win over Colony. Lathrop’s last state title came in 1990.
In the 3A semifinals, ACS marched to its second straight tournament blowout with a 72-22 trouncing of Kotzebue. Sayvia Sellers followed a 41-point performance in Thursday’s 58-point win over Homer with a 15-point game that also included nine steals, eight assists and five rebounds.
The Lions won state titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and their streak ended last year only because the tournament was cancelled by COVID-19. They’ll play a Sitka team whose last state title came in 2015.
Sitka advanced with a 49-36 win over Monroe Catholic. Jocelyn Brady knocked down five 3-pointers on her way to 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Championship games are Saturday at Palmer High. No consolation games will be played Saturday.
ASAA March Madness
Class 3A girls
Friday’s semifinals
Sitka 49, Monroe 36
ACS 72, Kotzebue 22
Friday’s consolation games
Kenai Central 43, Nome 29
Homer 60, Hutchison 20
Saturday’s game
1 p.m. -- ACS vs. Sitka, Palmer High
Class 4A girls
Friday’s semifinals
Bartlett 51, Ketchikan 46
Lathrop 65, Colony 60
Friday’s consolation games
Palmer 62. East 56
West 66, Dimond 47
Saturday’s game
5:45 p.m. -- Bartlett vs. Lathrop, Palmer High
Class 3A boys
Friday’s semifinals
6 p.m. -- ACS vs. Mt. Edgecumbe, Wasilla High
8 p.m. -- Monroe Catholic vs. Nome, Wasilla High
Friday’s consolation games
Kotzebue 53, Hutchison 50
Grace Christian 79, Delta 54
Saturday’s game
3 p.m. -- Semifinal winners, Palmer High
Class 4A boys
Friday’s semifinals
6 p.m. -- East vs. West Valley, Palmer High
8 p.m. -- Colony vs. Chugiak, Palmer High
Friday’s consolation games
South 51, Wasilla 46
Ketchikan 65, West 58
Saturday’s game
7:45 p.m. -- Semifinal winners, Palmer High