When the Newhalen girls basketball team won the 2021 Alaska State 1A tournament, the Malemutes considered it an overwhelming success. But it wasn’t exactly what were shooting for.
The field wasn’t as big or competitive as usual due to COVID-19 and the tournament was played in the Mat-Su Valley instead of the spacious Alaska Airlines Center.
Before flying back to their Western Alaska village nestled near Lake Iliamna, the team took a slight detour on the way to the airport.
“Last year when we won the tournament we had to come back through Anchorage to fly home,” Malemutes head coach James Barthelman said. “We purposely drove down and did a loop around the Alaska Airlines Center and said, ‘OK girls next year, right here. Do it again.’ I’m so proud of these girls.”
The Malemutes did it again on Saturday, taking a narrow 43-42 win over Klawock in the State 1A Girls Basketball Tournament.
“We won it (last year) but we always said this is the one that counts,” said junior Aileen Lester. “Playing at the Alaska Airlines Center coming through the smoke and the lights.”
The game was tied 21-21 at half, but the Malemutes went on a blistering 13-0 run over the first half of the third quarter, taking command of the game.
Lester led the charge during the run and finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Barthelman attributed the streak to a defensive change that sparked a series and steals and quick layups.
“It was just bam, bam, bam,” he said.
But the Chieftains continued to close the gap as the game went on, eventually tying it 41-41.
Kenai Holien finished with a game-high 22 points for Kwawock, which had a chance to win it in the final possession but had a final shot rattle out.
Johnna Nanalook netted 20 points to finish as the high scorer for the Malemutes.
Winning 1A titles for the school has been a tradition passed down through families.
Lester remembers running through the aisles during the championship game in 2014, cheering for her sister who was part of the title team from Newhalen.
“They almost all (have sisters that played) and their parents played,” Barthelman said. “It’s a situation where as an 1A team, a lot of times we don’t have 10 played to have a good solid practice so we try to bring in some of the former players. They beat us up pretty good.”
Championship
Newhalen 43 Klawock 42
Third place
Lumen Christi 58, Shishmaref 30
4th/6th place
Birchwood Christian (Chugiak) 36, Port Alsworth 22
Consolation
St. Mary’s 77, Buckland 64