Hawks celebrate first state tourney berth in two decades

HOUSTON — Call it a blessing in disguise.

The Houston Hawks would have loved a chance to play in the Southcentral Conference Championships title game last week in Seward. But a loss to the host Seahawks in the semifinal round knocked the Hawks to the backside of the bracket. Houston was able to battle through consolation action, grab two wins and secure the conference’s third and final bid to the 3A state tourney. Now, the Houston Hawks know who they’ll be facing next — Aurora Conference champion Hutchison in the 3A first round.

“We didn’t want to lose to Seward, but this is better for us state-wise,” Houston head coach Pat Egelus said of the Hawks, who avoided a first-round matchup with 3A power Barrow.

Seward will now face Barrow in the first round.

“I love it. You’re never playing to be third, but I love not having to play Barrow,” Egelus said.

Houston and Hutchison do share the bottom side of the bracket with Barrow and Seward.

Egelus said the Hawks played Hutchison last year, but have not seen the Fairbanks-based team this season.

“I know they’ve got a good shooter. They were definitely a good team last year,” Egelus said.

Egelus said the key now for the Hawks is to get healthy and build on the momentum of earning the program’s first state tournament berth in 21 years. Despite facing illness and injury, the Hawks had to beat Cordova and Nikiski on the final day to score its spot in state. With an eight-team field, the Southcentral Conference uses a play-back game to decide which two programs will face in the bracket’s third-place game.

The loss to Seward knocked Houston back into the play-back game. The Hawks beat Cordova in that game, to move into the third-place match against Nikiski.

The Hawks also needed late heroics to get past the Bulldogs.

With the score tied late, Houston senior Ne Ne Hale hit a buzzer-beater to give the Hawks the 44-42 win.

“It was pretty wild,” Egelus said of the finish. “The bench cleared. It was the first time in 21 years we were going to state.”

Egelus said he was proud of his players for battling through adversity to realize their goal of a chance to play in the state tourney.

“It was special for the girls to come through in the clutch there,” Egelus said.

Southcentral Conference champion Anchorage Christian School will face Nome, the Western Conference runner-up in the first round. Southeast Conference champion Sitka faces Aurora runner-up Valdez in first-round action. Both of those games are featured on the top side of the girls’ 3A bracket.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.