Thursday hoops: Redington boys fall in OT; Colony boys, girls open Lathrop tourney with wins

WASILLA — The Redington Huskies were seconds away from their first Southcentral Conference win in school history.

But Connor Spanos spoiled the moment.

Spanos buried a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Seward boys a 44-43 overtime win over Redington Thursday night at Redington in Wasilla.

“As soon as it left his hands, I put my head down. I knew it was going in,” Redington head coach Tony Brooke said by phone Thursday evening. “I had a perfect view. I was praying it wouldn’t go in.”

But Spanos knocked it down to give the Seahawks their first victory of the young season.

Even though Spanos stole the win, Brooke said he’s elated with the overall play of the athletes in his second-year varsity program.

“What a way to kick off the conference play, the season,” Brooke said. “Wow.”

Even though it’s a check in the loss column, Brooke said the performance is something the Huskies can build on. Redington was winless in Southcentral play during its first season of varsity basketball last year, but finished with three nonconference wins. Brooke said, judging by Thursday’s effort, he believes his team can be more competitive this year.

“That’s what we’ve been preaching to them,” Brooke said. “Play your game, and you’re going to be competitive.”

Redington opened with a 6-0 lead, but Seward closed the first quarter on an 11-point run. Seward led 19-13 at the half. But the Huskies used a dozen in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Brody Brooks led Redington with 16 points in the loss. Eleven of those points came in the second half and overtime. Brooks scored all three of his teams points during the extra period.

“Offensively, Brody was just a monster for us,” Brooke said.

Jaycob Elliott added nine points in the loss. Bristin Conway chipped in seven.

Zen Petrosius supplied a game-high 21 for Seward in the win.

“Their big guy is a monster,” Brooke said. “He tore us apart a little bit.”

In girls’ action, Ashley Jackson led Seward with 16 points in a 41-27 win over the Huskies. Courtney Crockett led the Huskies with 10 and Abby Fuller added nine.

Knights open Lathrop tourney with wins

A pair of sophomores helped the Colony boys knock off one of the top 3A teams in Alaska.

Wyatt Baker and Colton Spencer combined for six points in the extra period to lead Colony to a 75-73 overtime victory over Monroe Catholic, the 2017 3A runner-up.

Freshman Tori Schwantes scored 12 points to lead the Colony girls to a 54-17 win over Monroe. Kali Bull added nine, and Amanda Smith and Lexi Novelli chipped in eight each.

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

Seward boys 44, Redington 43

Thursday, Redington

Seward 11-8-10-11-4—44

Redington 6-7-14-12-3—43

Seward (44) — Moriaty 0 0-2 0, Estes 3 0-0 6, Ingalls 1 0-2 3, Spanos 2 1-2 6, Pferiffenberger 0 1-2 1, Jarvis 2 0-4 4, Petrosious 8 5-6 21; Totals: 16 7-18 45.

Redington (43) — Falaniko 1 0-0 2, Elliott 4 0-0 9, Amirault 2 0-0 4, Brooks 6 4-11 16, Conway 3 0-0 7, Norris 2 0-1 4; Totals: 18 4-12 43.

Seward girls 41, Redington 27

Thursday, Redington

Seward 8-10-12-11—41

Redington 9-2-3-13—27

Seward (41) — Sewer 1 0-0 2, Terry 1 0-0 2, VanBorstel 5 1-1 11, Jackson 2 12-14 16, Pstrosius 4 2-3 10; Totals: 13 15-18 41.

Redington (27) — McGovern 1 1-1 3, Crockett 5 0-0 10, Apargzuk 2 1-2 5, Fuller 4 1-5 9; Totals: 12 3-8 27.