McMorris free throws puts West in title game of Alaska Airlines Classic

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ACS’s Frederick Onochie is fouled under the basket by Kotzebue’s Bish Gallahorn. Kotzebue’s Seth Roetman, left, and Tye Ramoth help defend. Kotzebue beat Anchorage Christian School, 50-37, in the Alaska Airlines Classic basketball tournament at West High School on Friday, January 13, 2017. (Marc Lester / Alaska Dispatch News)

Diondre McMorris sank a pair of free throws with less than a minute to play Friday to make sure Alaska is represented in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Classic boys basketball tournament.

The free throws lifted the host West Eagles to a semifinal win over a Wisconsin team and puts them in the championship game against a Florida team.

West slipped past Rufus King of Milwaukee 43-42 to earn a spot in Saturday's 6:30 p.m. title game against the Riverview Rams of Florida.

The Rams pulled away from Chugiak in the third quarter to claim a convincing 63-42 win in Friday's other semifinal at West High.

McMorris, who finished with four points, hit his free throws with 47 seconds left.

The Eagles outrebounded Rufus King 38-19. Justin Tovio provided a game-high eight boards, Ayeak Dak furnished 12 points and six rebounds and Devon Jackson had seven assists and five rebounds.

Royce Buckner scored 11 points for Rufus King, which trailed 27-24 at the half but came back to claim a 37-31 lead after three quarters. West won the fourth quarter, 12-5.

In the other semifinal game, A.J. Caldwell grabbed nine of Riverview's 19 steals to help turn back Chugiak. He finished with 17 points and teammate Brion Whitley added 18.

Chugiak, which was led by Hunter Harr's nine points, trailed by one point at the half but was outscored 24-4 in the third quarter.

Earlier Friday, Kotzebue and B.C. Christian of Vancouver, British Columbia, picked up consolation-bracket victories,

Kotzebue dismantled Anchorage Christian 50-37, and B.C. Christian eked out a 71-68 win over Bartlett.

Bartlett fell victim to a monster game from B.C. Christian's Marijan Obad, who racked up 17 points and 17 rebounds. Mareng Gatkouth sank five 3-pointers en route to a game-high 20 points for Bartlett.

Kotzebue's Tye Ramoth (15 points, 4 assists) and Seth Roetman (8 points, 7 rebounds) helped the Huskies stop ACS. Anchorage Christian got seven points apiece from Collin Smallwood and Frederick Onochie.

Friday's results
Kotzebue 50, ACS 37
B.C. Christian 71, Bartlett 68
Riverview 63, Chugiak 42
West 43, Rufus King 42

Saturday's games
1:15 p.m. – ACS vs. Bartlett
3 p.m. – Kotzebue vs. B.C. Christian
4:45 p.m. – Chugiak vs. Rufus King
6:30 pm. – Riverview vs. West