Over the roar of the crowd: Toksook Bay triumphs in 1A boys basketball state championship

Abraham Julius left Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center on Saturday barely able to muster a whisper.

But the Toksook Bay senior also walked out of the building a state champion.

For the second straight night, Julius yelled over the din of a clamorous crowd of Toksook Bay fans as the No. 6 seed Islanders pulled off an upset.

The Islanders built another big lead, this time holding off top seed Tanana 51-47 to win the Alaska Boys 1A State Tournament championship game.

“I was surprised the team could even hear me,” he said. “Yesterday they couldn’t hear me at all. I think I yelled a little too much and I lost my voice. I really wanted to win this so I gave it my all.”

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Point Hope’s Virginia Teayoumeak, 31, douses her coach with water alongside teammates as they celebrate their win over Wrangell in the Class 2A girls state championship basketball game at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Julius’ all was enough for the Islanders, who upset No. 2 Lumen Christi on Friday. He scored 21 points to lead all scorers to deliver the title to the Western Alaska village.

Toksook Bay was underdogs in its final two games of the season, but Islanders head coach Simeon Lincoln said his team got better every time they stepped on the court.

“We played some very good teams (during the regular season),” he said. “We knew we had a chance. But you know, every game was an improvement for them.”

The tenacious Toksook Bay team was smaller at every position than towering Tanana but Lincoln said the team’s speed and shooting lifted it to the win. Tanana shot 25% in the second half compared to 44% for the Islanders.

Julius, the team’s point guard, said he was surprised by the team’s success but gratified.

“I’m very surprised,” he said. “It was a really good season for my last year and I loved every minute of it. I had hope for this team. I knew we had a chance at taking the state championship. Communication and chemistry are the most important things to kept us going all year.”

After holding a 17-5 advantage in the third quarter, Toksook Bay appeared ready to cruise. They held a 13-point lead with just a few minutes remaining in the third quarter before Tanana made a furious rally, cutting the lead to just two points in the final 30 seconds.

Julius said he was getting nervous.

“Kind of,” he said. “They are a really good team. They can knock down 3s. They’re a complete squad.”

Guard John Erhart led the way with 13 for Wolves, who have seven players and four seniors on their roster. Savien Linnear (11) and Anthony Kennedy (10) reached double figures for Tanana.

Colton Angaiak added 11 points and Asa Pitka scored 10 for the Islanders.

Championship

Toksook Bay 51, Tanana 47

Third place

Lumen Christi 74, Scammon Bay 59

4th/6th place

Shaktoolik 58, Shishmaref 56

Consolation

St. Mary’s 66, Newhalen 58