Both spectators and opponents have a very natural focus when it comes to the Grace Christian boys basketball team.
At a nearly 13 combined feet, cousins Luke and Sloan Lentfer stick out above the crowd. Aside from the imposing height, the two seniors are among the best in the state at the 3A level.
But as the top-seeded Grizzlies proved Thursday, they have plenty of talent outside of the paint as well.
After a close first quarter, Grace Christian took control, topping Mt. Edgecumbe 50-33 in the semifinals of the Alaska state 3A basketball tournament. For the second straight year, the Grizzlies will face Nome-Beltz, which topped Houston in double overtime to reach the finals.
The Grizzlies made 8 of 16 attempts from 3-point land, pulling away in the second quarter with the help of some sharp shooting. Senior guard Hunter Finch made 4 of 5 from deep for 12 first-half points. Fellow senior Tyler Binder made 2 of 3 and finished with six first-half points.
“We’re super well-rounded,” Finch said. “We’ve got a bunch of shooters and if they try to stop the big guys, then we got the shots open. So either way, we get something.”
The game was close in the early going as the Grace outside shots weren’t falling. The Grizzlies led just 11-10 after the first quarter. But they outscored the Braves 21-12 in the second quarter to take a 32-22 halftime lead. Finch said the team’s perimeter players just keep at it when they hit cold patches.
“Next shot, next shot is what we preach,” he said. “Eventually it starts going in because we’re all good shooters.”
Kaison Hermann kept the Braves close with 12 first-half points, including 7 of 8 free throws. He finished with 18 overall.
Luke Lentfer was Grace Christian’s leading scorer with 13 points. Sloan Lentfer added 10 and a game-high 17 rebounds.
With the win he Grizzlies are headed to their second consecutive 3A championship game at Alaska Airlines Center. Last year, they fell to Nome-Beltz in the title tilt. Grace Christian last won the state title in 2017 and was also runner-up in 2018.
“It’s big excitement,” Finch said. “Ever since the game last year we’ve been eyeing this year. We’re a senior-loaded team and this is the last year for a lot of us so we want to get it this year.”
3A Boys Basketball Tournament
Quarterfinals
Wednesday
Mt. Edgecumbe 43, Kenai Central 37
Grace Christian 68, Delta 36
Nome-Beltz 65, Barrow 50
Houston 64, Valdez 51
Thursday
Consolation
Valdez 47, Barrow 45
Kenai 60, Delta 31
Semifinals
Grace Christian 50, Mt. Edgecumbe 33
Nome-Beltz 68, Houston 63 (2 OT)
Friday
4th/6th place
Valdez vs. Kenai, 9:30 a.m.
Saturday
3rd/5th
Mt. Edgecumbe vs. Houston, 9 a.m.
Championship
Grace Christian vs. Nome-Beltz, 3 p.m.