Houston girls win first state tourney game in more than two decades

ANCHORAGE — During the first half of Houston’s quarterfinal loss to Hutchison Thursday, the Hawks looked like a team making their first trip to the state tournament.

But on Friday, it was as if Houston was making its annual trip to the Sullivan Arena.

Powered by senior Ne Ne Hale and a big second half, the Hawks scored a 48-32 victory over the Seward Seahawks during the ASAA/First National Bank 3A State Basketball Championships consolation semifinals.

“This morning, definitely, there was a different attitude,” Houston head coach Pat Egelus said of his team, which advanced to the bracket’s fourth-place game, and a match with Valdez, with the win.

Houston, making its first state tournament appearance in 21 seasons, suffered a 44-34 quarterfinal loss to Hutchison Thursday. With Houston slowed by nerves, Hutchison built a big enough lead to survive a second-half Houston run. But Friday, things were different for the Hawks.

“Nervous excitement yesterday. Today, it was down to business,” Egelus said.

Houston held a five-point lead at halftime and used a 16-9 third-quarter run to push its advantage to double digits.

Hale, Teddi Irvin and Savannah Wells each scored key points as the Hawks established their double-digit advantage late in the third quarter.

With about two minutes left in the third, Hale scored on consecutive possessions. She hit a short jumper and followed with a rebound on the defensive end before going end-to-end for the basket. Those buckets gave Houston a 32-23 lead. Irvin nailed a three-pointer from the corner to stretch the Houston lead to nine points, and Wells took it to double digits with a rebound and putback with 42 seconds left in the third.

“It was nice to have everybody on the same page,” Egelus said. “I think that was the best team game that we’ve played.”

Egelus said he also thought it helped that his Hawks played a familiar foe. It was the third meeting of the season for the Southcentral Conference rivals. Houston beat the Seahawks during the regular season, but the Seahawks scored a win over the Hawks during the Southcentral semifinals at Seward High earlier this month.

“It was all surprises for us yesterday,” said Egelus, noting the Hawks had a tough time tracking down tape of Hutchison to scout. “But we’ve seen Seward twice. (The team was) pretty mad when they lost at regions. The girls still had a little of that going on. They were pretty upset.”

Hale, who officially committed to Central Methodist University following the win, led the Hawks with 25 points. The senior, who was named Southcentral Conference Player of the Year, shot 9 of 16 from the floor and hit a pair of three-pointers. Hale also finished with five steals and three blocks.

Wells finished with nine points and two steals in the win. Victoria Baybado led the Hawks with six rebounds.

For more on Hale’s future with Central Methodist, see the Tuesday edition of the Frontiersman.

Houston carried that momentum created Friday into the final day of the tournament, using it to equal the program’s finish the last time the Hawks competed in a state tourney.

Houston scored a 43-36 win over Valdez in the bracket’s fourth-place game Saturday morning at UAA’s Wells Fargo Arena to match the Hawks’ fourth-place finish in 1992.

Hale scored a game-high 22 points for the Hawks. Wells added eight points and four rebounds.

The Hawks built a double-digit lead, and survived a late Valdez push in the fourth quarter. Houston jumped out to a 14-5 start, and led 36-24 after the third quarter. Valdez capped the game on a 12-7 run.

Houston 48, Seward 32

ASAA 4A girls consolation semifinals

Friday, Sullivan Arena

Seward 12-5-9-6—32

Houston 13-9-16-10—48

Seward (32) — VonBarstol 5 1-2 12, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Perea 3 4-6 10, Adelmann 3 0-0 8; Totals: 12 5-8 32.

Houston (48) — Lee 0 1-3 1, Wells 4 1-2 9, Nida 0 1-2 1, Baybado 2 1-3 5, Quincy 1 2-3 4, Hale 7 5-8 25, Irvin 1 0-0 3; Totals: 17 11-21 48.

Three-point field goals: Seward 3 (Adelmann 2), Houston 3 (Hale 2); Total fouls: Seward 21, Houston 13.

Houston 43, Valdez 36

ASAA 3A fourth-place game

Saturday, UAA

Houston 14-7-15-7—43

Valdez 5-12-7-12—36

Houston (43) — Lee 1 0-0 2, Wells 2 4-7 8, Apangalook 0 1-2 1, Baybado 1 1-3 3, Barber 0 2-2 2, Quincy 0 2-4 2, Hale 9 2-3 22, Irvin 1 0-0 3; Totals: 14 12-21 43.

Valdez (36) — MacDonald 3 0-0 8. Neasse 3 0-0 6, Derifield 3 3-4 10, Rohrer 1 0-0 2, Wamsley 4 2-3 10; Totals: 14 5-7 36.