Toksook Bay stuns Anchorage powerhouse Lumen Christi to advance to 1A boys title game

Facing the defending 1A boys champion, underdog Toksook Bay looked like a team that had something to prove.

The No. 6 seed Islanders built a 69-49 lead after three quarters Friday at the 1A State Boys Basketball tournament with sizzling offense and energized defense.

Toksook Bay held off a frantic rally from 2021 champ Lumen Christi of Anchorage to win 84-79 and advance to Saturday’s championship where they will face top seed Tanana at 4 p.m.

“We were hungry,” said senior Abraham Julius, who finished with 18 points. “We had a lot of hope and played hard and had fun.”

“We’ve been hungry all season,” added fellow senior Asa Pitka.

The Islanders were paced by Pitka’s 24 points and Colton Angaiak added 22.

Despite being an underdog to the No. 2 seeded Archangels, Islanders head coach Simeon Lincoln said his team didn’t do much out of the ordinary — just continued the progression they’ve been on all season.

“No they’ve just got better and better each game,” Lincoln said. “There wasn’t much difference. We played some competitive teams up north and that helped us.”

The Western Alaska village of about 600 people on the Bering Sea had a large and boisterous crowd despite the distance from the Alaska Airlines Center.

Trailing by 20 entering the final quarter, the Archangels outscored the players from Nelson Island School 30-15 in the final quarter.

Timothy Bennett led all scorers with 32 points for Lumen Christi and teammate Brenden Gregory added 29.

“We had a lack of communication (in the 4th quarter) because of a big gym and loud fans but we played good,” Julius said.

The girls 2A semifinals saw top seed Wrangell defeat No. 4 Glennallen and No. 2 Tikigaq toppled No. 3 Metlakatla.

The Tikigaq team from Point Hope was tied with Metlakatla going into the fourth quarter but held an 18-13 advantage in the final quarter for a 50-45 win.

“We’ve had our toughest schedule we’ve ever hard for Tikigaq girls,” Ramona Rock said.

Rock said the team played a tournament in Arizona as well as a couple in Anchorage.

The Wrangell team coached by Christina Good said her team’s zone defense helped the Wolves pull away with a 33-25 win.

“Our defense generally pulls us through,” Good said. “We have a zone that we typically play and it was dialed in.”

Wrangell and Tikigaq match up in today’s final at 6:30 p.m.

Boys 1A Tournament

Friday’s results

Semifinals

Tanana 66, Scammon Bay 38

Toksook Bay 84, Lumen Christi 79

Consolation

Shaktoolik 64, Kivalina 53

Newhalen 74, Nanwalek 54

Shishmaref 54, Klawock 48

St. Mary’s 80, Alak (Wainwright) 77

Saturday’s games

Championship

Tanana vs. Toksook Bay, 4 p.m.

Third place

Scammon Bay vs. Lumen Christi, 8 a.m.

4th/6th place

Shishmaref vs. Shaktoolik, 8 a.m.

Consolation

Newhalen vs. St. Mary’s 11 a.m.

Girls 1A Tournament

Friday’s games

Semifinals

Newhalen 61, Shishmaref 39

Klawock 45, Lumen Christi 34

Consolation

Birchwood Christian (Chugiak) 37, Tri-Valley (Healy) 36

Buckland 59, Nunamiut (Anaktuvuk Pass) 43

Port Alsworth 41, Shaktoolik 25

St. Mary’s 44, Chaputnguak (Chefornak) 35

Saturday’s games

Championsip

Newhalen vs. Klawock, 2 p.m.

Third place

Shishmaref vs. Lumen Christi, 9:30 a.m.

4th/6th place

Port Alsworth vs. Birchwood Christian (Chugiak), 9:30 a.m.

Consolation

Buckland vs. St. Mary’s, 11 a.m.

Boys 2A Tournament

Friday’s results

Semifinals

Ninilchik 77, Unalakleet 55

Metlakatla 78 Tikigaq 73 (OT)

Consolation

Petersburg 61, Hooper Bay 46

Unalaska 40, Effie Kokrine (Fairbanks) 39

Saturday’s games

Championship

Ninilchik vs. Metlakatla, 8:30 p.m.

3rd/5th place

Unalakleet vs. Tikigaq, 12:30 p.m.

4th/6th place

Petersburg vs. Unalaska, 9:30 a.m.

Girls 2A Tournament

Friday’s results

Semifinals

Wrangell 33, Glennallen 25

Tikigaq 50, Metlakatla 45

Consolation

Susitna Valley (Talkeetna) 48, Nenana 32

Unalakleet 51, Hooper Bay 30

Saturday’s games

Championship

Wrangell vs. Tikigaq, 6:30 p.m.

3rd/5th place

Glennallen vs. Metlakatla, 11 a.m.

4th/6th place

Susitna Valley (Talkeetna) vs. Unalakleet, 8 a.m.