Redington girls beat Houston for the first time

WASILLA — Less than a week after scoring its first varsity victory in school history, the Redington girls basketball squad put together its first winning streak.

Redington used a second-half push to edge rival Houston 50-47 in Southcentral Conference action Tuesday night at Houston High School. Courtney Crockett scored a game-high 31 points for the Huskies, who beat Eagle River, a 4A program, 41-35 on Jan. 24. Crockett scored 17 of Redington’s 28 second-half points against the Hawks. Crockett has 12 field goals, including a three-pointer, as was 6 of 8 from the free throw line. Marilana Koozaata hit a pair of threes and chipped in 10, while Abbie Fuller added nine.

Riley Davis hit five threes and led Houston with 22 points in the loss. Mary Graham hit a trio of threes and added nine.

The Redington boys nearly completed the sweep, but Houston held on for the 40-39 win later in the evening.

“It was an exciting atmosphere,” Redington head coach Tony Brooke said by phone Wednesday. “We got the ball with 17 seconds left. We were going down but couldn’t get anything off.”

Brooke said it was a back-and-forth game, particularly in the second half. The Huskies held a four-point lead in the fourth. Redington then got a steal, but was not able to convert the ensuing basket. Brooke said that was among the key points in the game.

“We had a chance to go up by six. It changed the momentum,” Brooke said.

Redington, which was missing two starters due to illness, was led by Bristin Conway’s 12 points. Tolupo Falaniko added 11.

Robert Ritter hit four three-pointers and scored a team-high 12 points for the Hawks. Gavin Mulhaney and Owen Mulhaney added eight points each.

The slim loss to the Hawks, comes on the heels of Redington’s first victory in school history over a 3A program. That was also against the Hawks. Redington beat Houston 50-47 in a nonconference game in the fourth-place game of the Bethel tournament last weekend.

After a first-round loss to Galena, the Huskies beat Aniak and Houston en route to the fourth-place finish.

“In reality, that tournament worked out perfect for us,” Brooke said.

Jaycob Elliott scored a game-high 19 for the Huskies. Ritter hit five threes and hit 15 for the Hawks.

“It was a good battle between two evenly matched teams,” Brooke said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Redington girls 50, Houston 47

Tuesday, Houston

Redington 15-7-10-18—50

Houston 14-12-5-16—47

Redington (50) — Koozaata 2 4-8 10, Crockett 12 6-8 31, Fuller 2 5-10 9; Totals: 16 15-26 50.

Houston (47) — Malidore 3 1-2 7, Graham 3 0-0 9, Davis 7 3-5 22, Whitted 2 0-0 4, Ritchie 2 1-2 5; Totals: 17 5-11 47.

3-point field goals: Redington 3 (Koozaata 2), Houston 8 (Davis 5); Team fouls: Redington 13, Houston 18.

Houston boys 40, Redington 39

Tuesday, Houston

Redington 7-12-11-9—39

Houston 9-14-12-6—40

Redington (39) ¬— Falaniko 4 3-6 11, Straughn 4 0-0 8, Elliott 1 0-0 2, Conway 6 0-0 12, Norris 3 0-0 6; Totals: 18 3-6 39.

Houston (40) — Wyrick 2 0-0 5, T. Croghan 1 0-0 2, G. Mulhaney 4 0-0 8, Sasiu 1 0-0 3, O. Mulhaney 4 0-0 8, Graham 1 0-0 2, Ritter 4 0-0 12; Totals: 16 0-1 40.

3-point field goals: Redington 0, Houston 6 (Ritter 4); Team fouls: Redington 8, Houston 5