Hawks win Tip-Off again

NIKISKI — At this rate, the Houston Hawks will always want to be part of the Nikiski Tip-Off field, but the Bulldogs may never want to have the Hawks back.

Houston used a 48-43 win over the host Bulldogs on Saturday to win the Nikiski Tip-Off at Nikiski High.

The Hawks won the Tip-Off team title for the third straight year.

“It’s been awesome,” Houston head coach Dave Porter said by cellphone from Nikiski. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

Senior Scott Kramer, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player after the game, hit a trio of three-pointers and scored a game-high 18 points in the win.

“He stood out throughout the whole tournament,” Porter said of Kramer.

Kramer was able to hit big shots from the outside, but Porter said the work of forwards Phillip Pease and Theo Stone inside also made a difference.

“Those post players stepped up big time today,” Porter said. “They knocked down a lot of big shots, a lot of clutch shots that really helped us out.”

Porter also praised the work of sophomore Matthew Barron, who helped limit one of Nikiski’s top players, Colton Anderson.

“That was a huge part of our success,” Porter said.

Overall, Porter was thrilled with the work of his team on defense.

Houston also beat Dillingham and Skyview en route to the title.

The Houston girls finished second in the tourney with a 2-1 mark. The Hawks capped their weekend with a 40-26 win over Nikiski.

Senior Savanna James, who earned MVP honors following the event, nearly outscored Nikiski herself, finishing with a game-best 23. Ten of those points came during a 15-point Houston run in the fourth quarter.

Jenae Shannon, who was named all-tournament, added seven points in the win.

Houston also beat Skyview 45-22 on Friday. The Hawks’ only blemish in the tourney was an overtime loss to Dillingham on Thursday.

Houston boys 48, Nikiski 43

Nikiski Tip-Off

Saturday, Nikiski High

Houston 14-5-10-17—48

Nikiski 9-12-9-13—43

Houston (48) — Barron 2 0-2 4, Saecho 1 0-0 2, Kramer 6 3-4 18, Ruta 2 1-3 5, Richey 1 0-2 2, Stone 2 0-0 4, Pease 5 2-2 13; Totals: 19 6-13 48.

Nikiski (43) — Anderson 2 4-4 10, Johnson 1 1-2 3, Hartley 1 1-1 3, Herrin 12 1-2 27; Totals: 16 7-9 43.

Three-point field goals: Houston 4 (Kramer 3), Nikiski 4 (Anderson, Herrin 2); Total fouls: Houston 14, Nikiski 16.

Houston boys 53, Skyview 47

Nikiski Tip-Off

Friday, Nikiski High

Houston 14-12-7-20—53

Skyview 13-14-12-8—47

Houston (53) — Barron 2 1-2 5, Saecho 2 0-0 4, Kramer 5 2-7 12, Taylor 1 0-0 3, Richey 1 0-0 2, Stone 6 1-3 13, Pease 3 8-10 14; Totals: 20 12-23 53.

Skyview (47) — Reynolds 3 2-2 8, Harling 0 2-2 2, White 1 0-0 2, Jones 2 0-0 6, Hilbish 1 0-0 2, Diaz 11 1-6 23; Totals: 21 5-11 47.

Three-point field goals: Houston 1 (Taylor 1), Skyview 1 (Jones 1) ; Total fouls: Houston 11, Skyview 19.

Houston girls 40, Nikiski 26

Nikiski Tip-Off

Saturday, Nikiski High

Houston 10-6-9-15—40

Nikiski 2-5-6-13—26

Houston (40) — Belanger 0 1-2 1, Lee 1 0-1 2; James 9 4-9 23; Nida 1 0-0 2; Baybado 1 0-0 4; Shannon 1 5-6 7; Irvin 1 0-0 3; Totals: 14 10-18 40.

Nikiski (26) — Griffel 2 2-4 6, Holloway 1 0-2 2; Epperheimer 1 0-0 2; Dixon 2 1-2 6; Thompson 1 3-4 5, Wallis 0 2-2 2; Martin 1 1-2 3; Totals: 8 9-16 26.

Three-point field goals: Houston 2 (James, Irvin 1); Nikiski 1 (Dixon); Total fouls: Houston 15, Nikiski 17.

Houston girls 45, Skyview 22

Nikiski Tip-Off

Friday, Nikiski High

Houston 17-15-6-7—45

Skyview 7-4-2-9—22

Houston (45) — Belanger 1 0-0 2; Lee 0 0-2 0; James 9 2-3 20; Nida 1 0-2 2; Baybado 3 1-1 7; Shannon 3 0-0 8; Wells 1 0-0 2; Irvin 2 0-0 4; Totals: 20 3-8 45.

Skyview (22) — Halverson 1 1-1 3; Ahlers 2 4-6 8; Reynolds 1 0-0 2; Malateste 1 0-0 3; Pearson 2 2-2 6; Totals: 7 7-11 22.

Three-point field goals: Houston 2 (Shannon 2); Skyview 1 (Malatesta 1); Total fouls: Houston 14, Skyview 8.