Hawks miss trip to state

March 13, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

NIKISKI - The Houston girls basketball team was so close to scoring a spot in the 3A state tournament, the players could almost reach out and touch victory.

But Nikiski pulled ahead in the nick of time.

The Bulldogs, the top-ranked team at the 3A level according to the Alaska Sportswriters Prep Basketball Poll, erased a 16-point halftime deficit, and spoiled Houston's bid to be one of the two teams from the Southcentral Conference heading to the state event.

Instead, by virtue of its 48-43 victory over the Hawks at Nikiski High School on Friday, Nikiski will join ACS next week at the state tourney in Anchorage.

Looking back on the game, Houston head coach Jason Spakowsky is disappointed his squad was not able to knock off the defending 3A state champions in the conference semifinals, move onto the region finals and punch that ticket to the state tournament. But he's also incredible of his team's efforts in the three-day tourney.

&#8220The girls in the first half,” Spakowsky said, referring to the two quarters in which Houston led Nikiski 29-13. &#8220That's the best half of basketball those girls have ever played. It was wonderful to see.”

Spakowsky said the Hawks had a good strategy going into the game, and his players executed.

&#8220A lot of attacking the basket, and use our speed to get by them,” Spakowsky said.

The aggressive style frustrated the Bulldogs, and Nikiski got in foul trouble early.

&#8220We got them in situations they're not used to being in,” Spakowsky said. &#8220They were playing guards quicker than them.”

Those foul problems sent the Hawks to the line, and Houston took advantage.

Houston was an outstanding 17-for-20 from the free-throw line in the first half.

Both Ariel Katzenberger and Emily Hundley were a perfect 6-for-6 from the line in the first half. Caylee Redford was 5-for-6.

Nikiski hit some key shots in the second, and used a 20-6 fourth-quarter run to claim the victory.

Key for the Bulldogs were the four three-pointers by guard Becca Carlson.

&#8220That was a huge factor,” said Spakowsky, who feels without those shots, Houston would have won the game by a nice margin. &#8220Every spot were the momentum started to switch, she'd hit a big three.”

Jen Mason, who was named first-team all-conference after the tourney, led the Hawks with 11 points in the game.

The following day, Mason scored a game-high 21 in a 54-31 win over Grace Christian, a victory that clinched third place in the tournament.

In a consolation final where there is always potential for a let-down, Spakowsky said his team responded positively.

&#8220The seniors got together and the starters got together, and wanted to go out on top,” Spakowsky said. &#8220We pretty much owned the second half.”

Houston held Grace scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Rather than just hoping to win, Houston is now expecting to win, Spakowsky said, and that played into the team's success during the tourney.

The Houston boys also narrowly missed a chance to head to the state tournament.

After beating Susitna Valley in the first round on Thursday, Heritage edged the Hawks 37-31 in the semifinals.

ACS beat Houston in the consolation finals.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@

frontiersman.com.