Hawks win Nikiski tourney

Frontiersman

NIKISKI — During a three-game road trip to the Interior earlier this month, Houston head coach Dave Porter watched as his team fell just short during a pair of losses.

Monroe edged Houston by three and Mid-Alaska Conference rival North Pole needed a pair of free throws during the final seconds of regulation to slip by the Hawks.

Despite the losses, Porter felt his young Hawks team was playing well and Houston was on the verge of stringing together some wins.

On Saturday, the Hawks proved Porter right.

Houston used a 71-65 overtime win over the Nikiski Bulldogs to win the Era Aviation Nikiski Tip-Off at Nikiski High School.

“This is huge,” Porter said. “(Considering) how young of a team this is, they’re playing great right now.”

Senior Zack Qual poured in 30 points to lead Houston to the win over the host Bulldogs in a contest that proved to be the title match of the round-robin tourney.

Both Houston and Nikiski earned victories over Cook Inlet Academy and Homer to set up the day-three contest.

“It was a big deal for both programs,” Porter said. “Both of these teams haven’t won tournament championships, region championships for quite some time. Both teams wanted it really bad.”

Houston took a double-digit lead early in the contest, but Nikiski took advantage of a handful of Houston turnovers late in the second quarter and went into the intermission with a one-point advantage.

The teams traded leads throughout the second half.

“It was back and forth,” Porter said. “They’d hit a three, we’d hit a three. They’d hit a two, he’d hit a two.”

Qual continued to spark the Hawks with his 30-point effort.

“He’s been playing great all season,” Porter said of Qual, who pushed his average to more than 20 points per game.

Qual scored a team-high 16 during a 57-47 win over Homer on the second day of the tourney.

Sophomore Scott Kramer added 14 points, and pulled down double-digits in rebounds.

Porter said Kramer, Max Rothley and Mitch Montreuil are also among the Hawks who have done well.

Qual and Rothley were both named all-tourney for the Hawks. Qual was the free-throw champion during the tourney’s special events, and Montreuil won the three-point shooting championship.

The Hawks also received the tourney’s sportsmanship award.

Hawks 57, Mariners 47

Friday, Nikiski High School

Houston 10 22 9 16 — 57

Homer 10 14 10 13 — 47

Houston (57) —S. Kramer 5 4-5 14, A. Richardson 1 0-0 3, B. Frank 0 2-2 2, Z. Qual 5 4-6 16, M. Rothley 3 0-2 7, M. Montreuil 2 4-4 8, T. Barron 1 0-0 2, C. Buzby 1 0-0 2, P. Pease 1 1-1 3. Totals —19 15-20 57.

Homer (47) — C. Watry 0 0-0 0, M. Walsworth 0 2-2 2, L. Garvey 7 6-9 20, J. Jester 2 2-2 6, N. Anderson 2 2-4 7, D. Day 1 4-4 6, R. Glosser 1 0-0 2, M. Pate 1 0-0 2, No. 55 1 0-1 2. Totals — 15 16-22 47.

3-point goals —Houston 4 (Richardson 1, Qual 2, Rothley 1); Homer 1 (Anderson 1). Team fouls —Houston 20; Homer 19. Fouled out — None.

Girls basketball

Hawks score

first win of season

NIKISKI — Houston used a 12-6 fourth-quarter run to post a 29-24 win over the Homer Mariners during the second day of the Era Aviation Nikiski Tip-Off at Nikiski High School.

The victory is actually Houston’s first since the 2006-07 campaign. The Hawks were winless last season.

Paige Warner posted a game-high 11 for the Hawks. Amber Madrid added eight.

The Houston defense held Homer to single digits in scoring during each of the final three quarters.

Nikiski edged Houston 46-41 on Saturday.

Houston 29, Homer 24

Friday, Nikiski High School

Houston 5 5 7 12 — 29

Homer 11 3 4 6 — 24

Houston (29) — M. Dodds 0 1-2 1, P. Wagner 2 7-8 11, S. James 2 1-1 5, A. Acton 0 2-3 2, A. Mackey 0 0-0 0, S. Ritter 0 2-2 2, A. Madrid 3 2-4 8, S. Shaffer 0 0-0 0. Totals —7 15-20 29.

Houston (24) —H. Oliver 0 0-0 0, A. Ketelle 4 0-1 8, E. Tutt 0 1-3 1, K. Edens 1 0-0 2, L. Needham 1 2-4 4, A. Stafford 3 0-0 6, J. Erickson 0 0-0 0, C. Cordova 0 1-2 1, M. Wood 1 0-0 2. Totals —10 4-10 24.

3-point goals — None. Team fouls — Houston 12; Homer 17. Fouled out — Stafford.