Top-seeded Dimond boys and girls will try to defend titles in CIC tournament

The Dimond Lynx have ruled the Cook Inlet Conference with an iron paw this season.

Their top-ranked boys and girls basketball teams are both 13-1 in conference play heading into the CIC tournament, where they hope to successfully defend their conference titles and keep the Dimond dynasty alive.

The boys are looking to three-peat and the girls are looking to secure their fifth straight crown. The girls have won the CIC tournament championship eight times since 2010.

The boys’ only conference loss of the season came at the hands of No. 2 East (11-3) on Feb. 4, 50-49. As for the girls, they dropped a 48-43 home-game decision to No. 3 West (10-4) on Jan. 17.

The CIC’s top two seeds in each bracket -- Dimond and East for the boys, Dimond and Bartlett for the girls -- have automatic byes into Friday’s semifinal matchups. The third and fourth seeds have byes into Thursday’s second round.

The tournament kicks off Wednesday with games at East, South and Service. After Wednesday, all games are at West High.

The CIC’s top two boys and girls teams will receive automatic bids into the state tournament. Other teams could qualify by earning at-large berths -- two for boys, two for girls.

The Class 4A state tournament is March 21-23 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

CIC tournament

Girls

Wednesday's games

6:00 p.m. -- No. 5 East (8-6) vs No. 8 Eagle River (0-14), East High

6:00 p.m. -- No. 7 Service (2-12) vs No. 6 South (4-10), South High

Thursday's games

3:00 p.m. -- No. 4 Chugiak (8-6) vs East-Eagle River winner, West High

6:00 p.m. -- No. 3 West (10-4) vs Service-South winner, West High

Boys

Wednesday’s games

7:30 p.m. -- No. 5 South (7-7) vs No 7. Chugiak (1-13), South High

8:00 p.m. -- No. 6 Service (5-9) vs No 8. Eagle River (2-12), Service High

Thursday’s games

4:30 p.m. -- No. 4 Bartlett vs (7-7) vs South-Chugiak winner, West High

7:30 p.m. -- No. 3 West (10-4) vs Service-Eagle River winner, West High