Hawks play in state tourney for first time in 21 years

ANCHORAGE — It’s been a lifetime since the Houston High girls basketball program made its last appearance at the state tournament.

A lifetime.

Literally.

The last time the Hawks set foot on the big floor for the state championships, Houston head coach Pat Egelus and assistant Colton Conner were polishing their skills in elementary school, and every member of their team was years from being born.

As the team that snapped out of the program’s 21-year state tournament drought, the Hawks brought the school’s two decades worth of nervous energy onto the floor. And once those nerves settled, the Hawks were in reach of an upset of Aurora Conference champion Hutchison.

But Hutchison used an early run to get past Houston 44-34 during the quarterfinal round of the ASAA/First National Bank 3A State Basketball Championships at the Sullivan Arena Thursday.

“We were hoping to get rid of them in the first four minutes,” Egelus said of his team’s case of the nerves. “But it lasted for 16.”

Hutchison held Houston scoreless for the first five minutes of regulation, led 11-2 after the first quarter and took a 28-12 advantage into the intermission.

But the final two quarters provided a different storyline for the Hawks.

“We came out in the second half, and the girls played great,” Egelus said. “We told them it was the best second half we’ve seen them play all year.”

With a bucket early in the third quarter, Hutchison stretched its lead to 18, the biggest of the night. But the Hawks’ didn’t fold.

The Hawks outscored the Fairbanks team 22-16 during the final two quarters. Baskets by Shanna Barber and Savannah Wells sparked Houston in the third, and the Hawks continued to claw their way back in the fourth.

Midway through the fourth, Houston used a pair of Ne Ne Hale shots to shave Hutchison’s lead to seven points.

“I told them they proved that’s a team they can beat, they just waited too long to show it,” Egelus said of his team.

Despite the loss, Egelus said he was proud of the way his team fought back.

“They’re a resilient group,” Egelus said. “We won’t go away. This is how Houston’s always been. We won’t go away.”

Hale — the Southcentral Conference Player of the Year — led the Hawks with 12 points, nine rebounds and three steals in the loss. Wells added six points and six rebounds, while Victoria Baybado added five points and seven boards.

Taylor Hasting and Kiana Edwards led Hutchison with 10 points each. Houston held Mimi Wood, the 3A state player of the year, to only seven points.

With the loss, Houston moves into the consolation semifinals to play Seward Friday at 11:30 a.m. at the Sullivan. Houston beat Seward during the regular season, but suffered a loss to the Seahawks during the Southcentral Conference semifinals at Seward High earlier this month. Egelus said the Hawks now have experience on the big stage, and have set their sights on the Seahawks.

“Tomorrow, I think, it’s going to be different,” Egelus said. “We have a little vengeance to show Seward after they beat us at their place. They beat us at regions. We want to beat them at state.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him @matsu_sports.

Hutchison 44, Houston 34

ASAA 3A girls quarterfinals

Thursday, Sullivan Arena

Houston 2-10-14-8—34

Hutchison 11-17-10-6—44

Houston (34) — Lee 0 1-2 1, Wells 3 0-0 6, Nida 0 2-2 2, Apangalook 0 2-2 2, Baybado 2 1-3 5, Barber 2 0-4 4, Hale 4 4-6 12; Totals: 12 10-19 34.

Hutchison (44) — Edwards 3 1-2 10, Wood 2 0-1 7, Yingling 1 0-0 2, V. Hasting 0 3-4 3, T. Hasting 3 2-2 10, Veazey 4 0-2 9; Totals: 16 6-11 44.

Three-point field goals: Houston 0, Hutchison 6 (T. Hasting 1); Total fouls: Houston 17, Hutchison 16.