Day of agony and ecstasy cuts field of Class 1A basketball contenders in half

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Justine Ramoth of Selawik, right, drives to the basket against Gambell defender Layla Booshu during 1A opening-round action at the 2017 March Madness Alaska state basketball tournament on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at UAA. (Erik Hill / Alaska Dispatch News)

Alaska's version of March Madness tipped off Wednesday with euphoria for 16 of the state's smallest schools — and heartbreak for 16 others.

A full day of basketball — 16 games, from 8 a.m. to about 10 p.m. — was played at the Alaska Airlines Center to determine which Class 1A teams advance to the main bracket at the state tournament.

Among those advancing were the defending champions: the Scammon Bay girls and the Ninikchik boys.

Among those who will miss the main event and will instead play in a consolation tournament at the arena's auxiliary gym: The five-player girls team from Kake and the six-player boys team from Tanana.

In a 33-30 loss to the Ninilchik girls, Kake played the final few minutes with four players after its top player — Jacqueline Bennum, who scored 15 point and grabbed 10 rebounds — fouled out. Ninilchik made the most of its advantage for a come-from-behind victory.

In a 66-59 overtime loss to the Shaktookik boys, Tanana's Juwan Moore scored 28 points — Wednesday's highest scoring effort — but it wasn't enough for the Wolves, whose six-man squad includes an eighth grader.

Quarterfinal action for the Class 1A and Class 2A tournaments begins Thursday at 8 a.m. Championship games will be played Saturday.

March Madness Alaska

Alaska Airlines Center

Wednesday's Class 1A results

Girls
Selawik 62, Gambell 36
Ninilchik 33, Kake 30
King Cove 70, Newtok 39
Buckland 50, Shaktoolik 49
Aniak 69, St. Mary's 46
Nikolaevsk 40, Anaktuvuk Pass 35
Scammon Bay 90, Tri-Valley 46
Klawock 30, Sand Point 23

Boys
Hydaburg 51, Chefornak 25
Gambell 55, Alakanuk 43
Shaktoolik 66, Tanana 59 (OT)
Ninilchik 51, Aniak 41
Buckland 49, King Cove 48
Klawock 66, Scammon Bay 39
Newhalen 63, Anaktuvuk Pass 59
Nikolaevsk 47, Noatak 44

Thursday's games

Class 1A quarterfinals

Girls
8 a.m. — Aniak vs. Selawik
9:30 a.m. — King Cove vs. Nikolaevsk
3:30 p.m. — Scammon Bay vs. Ninilchik
5 p.m. — Buckland vs. Klawock

Boys
11 a.m. — Ninilchik vs. Shaktoolik
12:30 p.m. — Buckland vs. Klawock
6:30 p.m. — Hydaburg vs. Gambell
8 p.m. — Newhalen vs. Nikolaevsk

Class 2A quarterfinals

Girls
11 a.m. — Bristol Bay vs. Chevak
12:30 p.m. — Glennallen vs. Craig
6:30 p.m. — Point Hope vs. Metlakatla
8 p.m. — Dillingham vs. Nenana

Boys
8 a.m. — Unalaska vs. Bristol Bay
9:30 a.m. — Metlakatla vs. Glennallen
3:30 p.m. — Cordova vs. Unalakleet
5 p.m. — Petersburg vs. Point Hope