The Riverview Rams of Florida made a 5,000-mile journey to Alaska worth their while Thursday by picking up an 89-72 victory over Bartlett on the opening day of the Alaska Airlines Classic basketball tournament at West High.
In other games, the West Eagles triumphed 51-41 over Kotzebue, the Chugiak Mustangs held off B.C. Christian of Vancouver 57-55 and the Rufus King Generals of Milwaukee drilled Anchorage Christian 53-36.
West's win over Kotzebue came in the first game of the tournament. Students were let out of class to watch the 12:45 p.m. game.
They saw the Eagles win behind a strong rebounding effort that included 10 boards from Noah Christy and eight from Justin Tovio.
Christy and Tovio combined for 17 points and were part of a balanced scoring effort led by Joe Barranco's 12 points.
Tye Ramoth topped Kotzebue with 17 points.
Riverview, a state runner-up last season, rode a 25-point performance from Brion Whitley to the win over Bartlett. The Golden Bears got a boost from Sebastian Brown's 12 points and Gatrak Wal's 11.
Turnover troubles doomed ACS in its loss to Rufus King, which benefitted from 19 turnovers by the Lions. Royce Buckner paced the Wisconsin winners with 13 points and four steals, and Orlando Lozano topped ACS with 11 points.
In the late game, Chugiak and Terrance Coates won a scoring duel with B.C. Christian and Kennan Dowell. Coates pumped in 31 for Chugiak and Dowell had 26 for B.C. Christian, a Vancouver basketball academy.
Coates drilled eight 3-pointers to Dowell's six.
Thursday's results
West 51, Kotzebue 41
Riverview 89, Bartlett 72
Rufus King 53, ACS 36
Chugiak 57, B.C. Christian 55
Friday's games
2:30 p.m. – Kotzebue vs. ACS
4:15 p.m. – Bartlett vs. B.C. Christian
6 p.m. – Riverview vs. Chugiak
7:45 p.m. – West vs. Rufus King