The East Thunderbirds used a big first quarter and the Dimond Lynx used a big fourth quarter Tuesday night to remain the only undefeated boys basketball teams in the Cook Inlet Conference.
East limited the Service Cougars to two points in the first quarter en route to a 57-44 victory, and Dimond piled up fourth-quarter points at the foul line to pull away from the West Eagles 66-50.
Both winning teams improved to 3-0. West dropped to 0-3 and Service to 1-2.
In other boys games, Chugiak beat South 85-74 and Bartlett topped Eagle River 46-37.
Chugiak and Bartlett both moved to 2-1; South is 1-2 and Eagle River 0-3.
In girls action, three teams remained unbeaten through three games — Bartlett, Dimond and East.
Bartlett walloped Eagle River 70-17, Dimond denied West 51-43 and East fended off Service 48-43. In the night’s other game, Chugiak defeated South 34-23.
South, Service and Eagle River remain winless in three CIC games. Chugiak is 2-1, and West is 1-2.
Boys games
Hasaan Herrington poured in 25 points, draining five triples along the way, to lead East past host Service.
Jahbez Sellers added 13 points for the T-birds, while Service got 12 points apiece from Ron Childress and Dylan Westlake.
McGuire Hamey caught fire late to spark Dimond’s win over West, which went cold in the fourth quarter to absorb a third straight loss. Hamey scored nine of his 12 points and the Lynx hit 14 of 20 in the fourth quarter to outscore the visiting Eagles 19-5.
Dimond’s Luke Johnsten led all scorers with 17 points. For West, Chance Sahr had 13 points and Traivar Jackson and Willie Zamora each had 12.
In a high-scoring game at Chugiak, the Mustangs outscored South 30-18 from 3-point range, an effort highlighted by sharpshooter Jackson Wall’s six 3-pointers.
Wall finished with 24 points and teammate Owen Lewis added 23. South had a pair of big scorers in Reece Ivanoff (21 points) and Aidan Ohlson.
No details were reported from the Bartlett-Eagle River game.
Girls games
Kali Hibbert scored nine of her game-high 18 points in the decisive fourth quarter to power Dimond past West. West led by two points after the third quarter, but the Lynx took over in the fourth by outscoring the visitors 15-5.
Free throws in the final eight minutes made a big difference, with Dimond hitting 8 of 10 and West hitting 1 of 2.
Jordan Zackery scored 15 points and Juliette Adlawan had 14 for West. For Dimond, Caitlyn Brower joined Hibbert in double figures with 10 points.
In East’s narrow win over Service, Kristi Anderson dropped in 16 points to power the T-birds, who connected on 8 of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter.
Asa Huckill’s 17 points and Genevieve Mahe’s 15 points led Service.
Bartlett enjoyed another big game from Amelia ‘Uhila in the win over Eagle River. After back-to-back triple-doubles, ‘Uhila settled for a double-double with 19 points and 10 steals while also handing out five assists.
Adam Kaganak supplied 19 points and seven rebounds and freshman Mariya Oliver had 10 points for the Golden Bears.
No details were reported from the South-Chugiak game.
Friday’s games
Girls
Dimond at Bartlett, 5:30 p.m.
Chugiak at East, 5:30 p.m.
Eagle Rive at South, 5:30 p.m.
Service at West, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
Dimond at Bartlett, 7:30 p.m.
Chugiak at East, 7:30 p.m.
Eagle Rive at South, 7:30 p.m.
Service at West, 7:30 p.m.