High School Sports

CIC basketball teams head into conference playoffs

With spots in the Class 4A state tournament at stake, the Cook Inlet Conference basketball tournament begins Wednesday with doubleheaders at four Anchorage high schools.

The top two teams will advance to the March 22-24 state tournament. Teams that don't qualify automatically may still make it to state by securing one of two at-large berths into the tournament.

The Dimond Lynx are the CIC's top seeds on the boys side and the girls side.

The girls are 14-0 in conference play and will host winless Eagle River (0-14) at 6 p.m. The boys (13-1) will host Service (1-13) at 7:30 p.m.

At East High, the T-birds will host the Eagle River boys and Service girls. The West boys and girls will both host Bartlett and the Chugiak boys and girls will both play at home against South.

First-round losers will be eliminated from tournament play. The winners will advance to a series of four semifinal games beginning at 2:30 p.m. Friday at West High.

Championships will be decided Saturday at West. The girls title game is at 5 p.m., followed by the boys at 6:45 p.m.

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Automatic berths at the eight-team state tournament will go to the top two CIC teams, the top two Northern Lights Conference teams and the champions from the Mid-Alaska Conference and the Southeast Conference.

The remaining two berths will be awarded based on statewide rankings.

CIC tournament

Wednesday's first round

Girls (all games at 6 p.m.)

No. 8 Eagle River (0-14) at No. 1 Dimond (14-0)

No. 5 Bartlett (7-7) at No. 4 West (7-7)

No. 7 Service (2-12) at No. 2 East (12-2)

No. 6 South (4-10) vs. No. 3 Chugiak (10-4)

Boys (all games at 7:30 p.m.)

No. 8 Service (1-13) vs. No. 1 Dimond (13-1)

No. 5 Eagle River (6-8) vs. No. 4 East (7-7)

No. 7 Bartlett (3-11) vs. No. 2 West (11-3)

No. 6 South (6-8) vs. No. 3 Chugiak (9-5)

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