Su Valley girls, boys finish fourth in 2A state tourney

The Susitna Valley Rams fell in their first game of the 2A girls state basketball tournament. But they capped the tourney with a game they will never forget.

Seventh-seeded Susitna Valley outlasted top-seeded Metlekatla 34-29 in double-overtime during the ASAA/First National Bank 2A State Basketball Championships Saturday morning in Anchorage.

The Rams outscored Metlekatla 5-0 during the second tiebreaker, after the 2A rivals were tied 24-24 at the end of regulation and 29-29 after the first overtime.

Lily Esmailka led the Rams with a game-high 13 points. Eight of those 13 were scored at the free throw line. She also added 10 rebounds. Poppy Moren added eight points.

The Su Valley boys also finished fourth, beating 53-50. The Rams, the No. 6 seed, jumped out to a 239-first-quarter lead. But fifth-seeded Wrangell outscored the Rams 32-16 in the second and third quarters combined. Su Valley needed a 14-9 fourth-quarter run to win it.

Austin Barnard led the Rams with 19 points and nine rebounds. Miles Osmond finished with 16. Owen Drumm added 10.

The Rams girls opened their tourney with a 44-29 loss to second-seeded Unalakleet. Esmailka led Sun Valley with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Rams bounced back with a 42-34 win over sixth-seeded Cordova. Esmailka had 18 to lead her team. Ashley Delima had 13 points and a team-best 10 rebounds.

The Su Valley boys suffered a 67-58 overtime loss to third-seeded Cordova in the first round. Barnard finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Rams. Osmond added 19, and Colton Thompson chipped in 11 points and nine boards.

Su Valley beat seventh-seeded Chevak 65-49 in the consolation semifinals. Osmond led his team with 15. Barnard and Thompson added 11 each, and Earl Davidson chipped in 10.

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