Bettye Davis East Anchorage boys basketball team rolls Service to claim fifth region title in six years

The last defeat to an Alaska opponent that the Bettye Davis East Anchorage boys basketball team suffered came in the 2023 Region IV championship game as a young group of Thunderbirds were pounded by a loaded senior-heavy Dimond squad by 21 points.

Even though they rebounded in the biggest way by running the table at last year’s 4A state championship tournament, the sting from that embarrassing loss was still vivid in the forefront of their minds heading into Saturday’s Region IV title game at West High School as they blew out Service 58-41.

“We really bounced back this year and didn’t want it to end up like last year,” East senior guard Akeem Sulaiman said. “We came out stronger and tougher and more in a competitive spirit.”

Although the Cougars weren’t the opponent the Thunderbirds faced in the regional championship bout the last time around, they were the ones standing in the way of them extending the longest active winning streak against in-state opponents. Using a potent offense and suffocating defense, they were able to cruise to their 28th consecutive victory to claim the program’s fifth region title in the past six seasons.

“This region is very tough and Service is really good and we still may see them again,” East head coach Chuck Martin said. “We’re very fortunate and happy to win this regions because you have three of the top four ranked teams in the state and arguably the top three teams in the state.”

East exploded out of the gate with a 15-0 run in the first quarter to build a double-digit lead that it would not relinquish the rest of the way. The Thunderbirds outscored the Cougars a whopping 26-5 in the first quarter and were up 34-19 at halftime.

“The shots came because the defense was there and defense creates opportunities on the other end so you gotta keep the ball moving and shoot your open shots,” Sulaiman said.

The third quarter unfolded in a similar dominate fashion as the first with Service getting outscored by nearly 20 points and trailed by 25 heading into the fourth quarter down 50-25. The final period was the only one in which the Cougars put up more points but by that time East had taken its foot off the gas a little bit and began subbing in some backups in the last few minutes with victory well in hand.

Sulaiman led the Thunderbirds in scoring with 20 points that included 14 in the first half and was one of just two players on the team to reach double figures in scoring despite the offensive onslaught that persisted for much of the night.

“He was terrific tonight on championship night,” Martin said.

The All-Conference guard was especially lethal from behind the arc, where he drained four three-pointers, more than half of the team’s total of seven in the game.

“The defense really created my opportunities,” Sulaiman said. “I was coming down, moving around, taking my shots, being patient, and not forcing anything.”

While he didn’t lead the team in scoring as he is accustomed to doing with just four points on the night, junior Muhammed Sabally was crowned Cook Inlet Conference Player of the Year, an honor that he was voted to unanimously according to Martin.

“I don’t think anybody in the state does for their team what Mo does night in and night out that people don’t see,” he said. “He’s a terrific leader, great to coach, and a terrific kid ... He is the best player on the best team.”

Being named the player of the year for the toughest and most competitive conference in the state was one of the goals Sabally set for himself ahead of the season but his high aspirations for the team as a whole mean more to him.

“It was one my goals, but it’s more about the team,” he said. “Getting this region championship was a big deal too.”

The Thunderbirds have proven to be the cream of the crop in the Last Frontier all season and will be in a familiar position heading into the 2024 ASAA 4A state tournament. After being underdogs last year, they will enter as overwhelming favorites to repeat and successfully defend their title.

“Winning last year’s state tournament was a tremendous experience because we weren’t expected to,” Martin said. “We do feel some pressure because we haven’t lost.”