Bristol Bay region’s basketball teams score big at 1A State Championship tournaments

Ashten Gould of King Cove grabs the loose ball as Talen Davis of Kake reaches for it during the 1A boys state basketball championship game at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Saturday, March 16, 2024. At right are Brennen Larsen of King Cove and Dominic Ross of Kake. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Teams from around the Bristol Bay region headed to Anchorage for the 1A Basketball State Championship tournaments last weekend.

The King Cove T-Jacks won the boys’ championship, outscoring challenger and last year’s champion, Kake. The T-Jacks were undefeated this year.

The Koliganek Huskies also competed in the boys’ State Championship tournament last week but did not advance beyond Thursday’s consolation game.

For the girls’ championship, the Newhalen Malamutes placed second behind Fort Yukon. The Malamutes were 2022′s champions and showed their skills on the court throughout this season, winning all but two of their games. The Malamutes also competed in more games than any other team in the Girls 1A Aleutian Chain Conference, a total of 33.

Finally, the Bristol Bay Lady Angels finished strong at their first 1A State Championship. After losing to Shaktoolik in the quarter-final game, the Lady Angels went on to win their consolation game against Napaaqtugmiut by one point. They placed sixth in the tournament overall, after losing to Buckland.

Several athletes from around the region made the championships’ All-Tournament Teams, including King Cove’s Jager-Sean Brandell and Thomas Mack, Newhalen’s Ida Lester and Dannika Wassillie, and Bristol Bay Borough’s Olivia Harvilla.

Get in touch with the author at christina@kdlg.org or 907-842-2200.