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Mar. 20—Crossing paths with Grace Christian at the Alaska State 3A Basketball Tournament has become nearly a tradition for the Barrow girls team, as the two familiar foes have been among the top programs in recent years.
While the Whalers' past two playoff meetings against the Grizzlies have been in the title tilt, this year's matchup came in the semifinals. This time, Barrow got the better of the three-time defending state champions in a 50-39 victory Thursday at Alaska Airlines Center.
"That was one of the best wins of my coaching career," head coach Nicole Smith said. "We've been battling with Grace for the past three years now, and it was such a good feeling to get a win."
The second matchup of the season between the two powerhouses played out much differently from the first, in late January, when Barrow coasted to a 30-point victory. This time around, it was back-and-forth from the start until a key 9-0 run to open the fourth quarter increased the Whalers' lead from six points to 15.
"That was incredible, I think our defensive effort there in the fourth quarter was awesome," Smith said. "The girls were locked in all game long. They put their foot on the gas and didn't let go."
The Grizzlies didn't go down without a fight, and were able to whittle the deficit down to single digits for a stretch.
But the Whalers were able to secure the victory and move on to Saturday's championship game.
"I'm filled with excitement and joy and just the connection with my teammates," senior Zadah Unutoa said.
She received player of the game honors despite not reaching double figures in scoring with eight points. But she made her presence felt in the post, corralling offensive and defensive rebounds and dishing out the ball to her teammates.
"Zadah has been everything to this program," Smith said. "She's our force in the paint, she's battling for the boards and most importantly, she has everybody's back. She plays not only for herself but for the whole team."
The Whalers' faithful were loud and proud throughout the game as it felt like the entire village of Utqiagvik had descended upon the Alaska Airlines Center.
"It's a really big community we have and having the support really brings us (energy)," Unutoa said. "We always have a support system and we really appreciate the community for supporting (us)."
Smith says that their fans are "best fans in the state of Alaska."
"They travel with us everywhere that we go (and) they're always supporting us through everything," she said. "We couldn't do it without the fans."
Barrow has not lost a game to a 3A opponent so far this year, and now is just one win away from putting that exclamation point on their season.
"This group has been incredible all season long," Smith said. "They've had a goal since the beginning and they've been fighting for that goal all season long no matter who we play, 3A, 4A, we've played 1A teams too. They've had their eyes on the goal, but we're not done yet."
Monroe Catholic snaps 21-year finals drought
After coming in third place at the last three 3A state tournaments, the Monroe Catholic girls team this year will finish in one of the top two spots for the first time in over two decades.
With a commanding 52-32 win over sixth-seeded Kenai Central in the semifinals Thursday night, the second-seeded Rams advanced to the finals for first time since 2005.
"It's unreal," head coach Tim Church said. "Everybody thought we were rebuilding this year, but these girls came together at the right time and they're playing their butts off, and now we're going to the big dance. They're going to the big game, and I couldn't be more happy for them."
Since they played in the first semifinal bout of the day, their next opponent was yet to be determined, but they knew it'd be either top-seeded Barrow or three-time defending state champion Grace Christian.
"We're going to face a juggernaut in either Grace or Barrow, but I wouldn't have it any other way," Church said.
The Rams controlled Thursday's game, outscoring the Kardinals in each of the first three quarters and only allowing Kenai to score double figures in the third.
"They worked over their nerves and then they got down to it and they played through," Church said. "We looked like we were going to crack a couple of times. They got it together like champions do."
Kenai pulled off the first big upset on the tournament's first day when they beat Mt. Edgecumbe as the sixth seed, and they came into the semifinals with confidence.
"That's a young team too, and they're going to be back," Church said. "We expect that if we can get to the semis next year, we'll probably run into a team like this again. It's never going to be easy. They're well-coached and those girls play hard."
Senior Emersyn Cortez received player of the game honors after scoring all 10 of her points in the first half to help the Rams assert their dominance and double up on Kenai 28-14 at halftime.
"She finally got the nod for the starting role this year being a captain, playing hard and doing everything she can," Church said. "(She) does whatever is asked of her, tries her best, and she's a hell of an athlete. She runs the floor for us all game and you can't ask for more than that."
As passionate and supportive as their community is when it comes to high school basketball, fans of the Fairbanks school haven't had to fly in for a title bout since the boys team won it all in 2021.
"We've got to get as many people as we can to help cheer on the Rams," Church said.
3A girls state tournament
At Alaska Airlines Center
Semifinals
Thursday
No. 2 Monroe Catholic 52, No. 6 Kenai Central 32
No. 1 Barrow 50, No. 4 Grace Christian 39
Saturday
Third/fifth place
Grace Christian vs. Kenai Central, 9:30 a.m. in auxiliary gym
Fourth/sixth place
Delta vs. Kotzebue, 11 a.m. in auxiliary gym
Finals
Barrow vs. Monroe Catholic, 1:30 p.m. in main gym
Continue reading...
While the Whalers' past two playoff meetings against the Grizzlies have been in the title tilt, this year's matchup came in the semifinals. This time, Barrow got the better of the three-time defending state champions in a 50-39 victory Thursday at Alaska Airlines Center.
"That was one of the best wins of my coaching career," head coach Nicole Smith said. "We've been battling with Grace for the past three years now, and it was such a good feeling to get a win."
The second matchup of the season between the two powerhouses played out much differently from the first, in late January, when Barrow coasted to a 30-point victory. This time around, it was back-and-forth from the start until a key 9-0 run to open the fourth quarter increased the Whalers' lead from six points to 15.
"That was incredible, I think our defensive effort there in the fourth quarter was awesome," Smith said. "The girls were locked in all game long. They put their foot on the gas and didn't let go."
The Grizzlies didn't go down without a fight, and were able to whittle the deficit down to single digits for a stretch.
But the Whalers were able to secure the victory and move on to Saturday's championship game.
"I'm filled with excitement and joy and just the connection with my teammates," senior Zadah Unutoa said.
She received player of the game honors despite not reaching double figures in scoring with eight points. But she made her presence felt in the post, corralling offensive and defensive rebounds and dishing out the ball to her teammates.
"Zadah has been everything to this program," Smith said. "She's our force in the paint, she's battling for the boards and most importantly, she has everybody's back. She plays not only for herself but for the whole team."
The Whalers' faithful were loud and proud throughout the game as it felt like the entire village of Utqiagvik had descended upon the Alaska Airlines Center.
"It's a really big community we have and having the support really brings us (energy)," Unutoa said. "We always have a support system and we really appreciate the community for supporting (us)."
Smith says that their fans are "best fans in the state of Alaska."
"They travel with us everywhere that we go (and) they're always supporting us through everything," she said. "We couldn't do it without the fans."
Barrow has not lost a game to a 3A opponent so far this year, and now is just one win away from putting that exclamation point on their season.
"This group has been incredible all season long," Smith said. "They've had a goal since the beginning and they've been fighting for that goal all season long no matter who we play, 3A, 4A, we've played 1A teams too. They've had their eyes on the goal, but we're not done yet."
Monroe Catholic snaps 21-year finals drought
After coming in third place at the last three 3A state tournaments, the Monroe Catholic girls team this year will finish in one of the top two spots for the first time in over two decades.
With a commanding 52-32 win over sixth-seeded Kenai Central in the semifinals Thursday night, the second-seeded Rams advanced to the finals for first time since 2005.
"It's unreal," head coach Tim Church said. "Everybody thought we were rebuilding this year, but these girls came together at the right time and they're playing their butts off, and now we're going to the big dance. They're going to the big game, and I couldn't be more happy for them."
Since they played in the first semifinal bout of the day, their next opponent was yet to be determined, but they knew it'd be either top-seeded Barrow or three-time defending state champion Grace Christian.
"We're going to face a juggernaut in either Grace or Barrow, but I wouldn't have it any other way," Church said.
The Rams controlled Thursday's game, outscoring the Kardinals in each of the first three quarters and only allowing Kenai to score double figures in the third.
"They worked over their nerves and then they got down to it and they played through," Church said. "We looked like we were going to crack a couple of times. They got it together like champions do."
Kenai pulled off the first big upset on the tournament's first day when they beat Mt. Edgecumbe as the sixth seed, and they came into the semifinals with confidence.
"That's a young team too, and they're going to be back," Church said. "We expect that if we can get to the semis next year, we'll probably run into a team like this again. It's never going to be easy. They're well-coached and those girls play hard."
Senior Emersyn Cortez received player of the game honors after scoring all 10 of her points in the first half to help the Rams assert their dominance and double up on Kenai 28-14 at halftime.
"She finally got the nod for the starting role this year being a captain, playing hard and doing everything she can," Church said. "(She) does whatever is asked of her, tries her best, and she's a hell of an athlete. She runs the floor for us all game and you can't ask for more than that."
As passionate and supportive as their community is when it comes to high school basketball, fans of the Fairbanks school haven't had to fly in for a title bout since the boys team won it all in 2021.
"We've got to get as many people as we can to help cheer on the Rams," Church said.
3A girls state tournament
At Alaska Airlines Center
Semifinals
Thursday
No. 2 Monroe Catholic 52, No. 6 Kenai Central 32
No. 1 Barrow 50, No. 4 Grace Christian 39
Saturday
Third/fifth place
Grace Christian vs. Kenai Central, 9:30 a.m. in auxiliary gym
Fourth/sixth place
Delta vs. Kotzebue, 11 a.m. in auxiliary gym
Finals
Barrow vs. Monroe Catholic, 1:30 p.m. in main gym
Continue reading...
