Cook Inlet Conference Regional Tournament in Rewind
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Eagles to State and claim 3rd place in CIC
Fourth ranked West High Eagles defeated the sixth ranked Eagle River Wolves to claim third place in the Cook Inlet Conference Regional Tournament Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles led 18-9 in the first quarter and 33-23 at half.
The Wolves needed help tonight to slow the pressure the Eagles applied. The help for the Wolves came from two seniors, forward Eric Roberts 21 points, 6 rebounds, who played like a beast down the stretch with four fouls and Shaquan Rhoades with 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.
The Wolves were more efficient in the second half. As the buzzer sounded ending the 3rd quarter, the Wolves hit a three and dropped the lead to three (47-44).
The Eagles played to secure their position at State by picking up momentum and challenging every competitor. Junior guard DeAndre Wilson 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, freshman guard Dazhon Wyche 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and senior guard Christian Nidoy led the Eagles to a 65-60 win.
Cougars showing poise in pursuit of the Crown
The first seed Service Cougars advanced to play second seeded East Anchorage in Saturday's finals after a big win over the hungry West Anchorage Eagles in the semi-finals of the Cook Inlet Conference Regional Tournament.
The Cougars came in to the game as the highly touted team to win the CIC. Well, somehow the Eagles didn't get the message or care, the Eagles showed no fear, and pressure was felt from both teams.
We begin the third with the score 41-35, the Cougars continue to keep a 6-8 point lead until the Eagles score with under 2:00 minutes (52-49) Cougars. After a double foul, the Eagles tie the game up for the eleventh time, (52-52) as Jhayde Zamora hits his only 3 with 55 seconds left in the third, outscoring the Cougars 17-16. Fourth quarter is where the senior Cougars take over and open the game up for good.
Adam Klie took over as a proven consistent leader he has been all year. Klie hits a free-throw following an offensive rebound with 4:30 left in the game, score (68-58). Cougars with 2:26 left have a 17 point lead and are finally in control of this game.
The game was decided but as added spice Klie stole the ball mid court and went up and punched the rim with a two handed dunk with 28.7 seconds left in the 85-66 Cougars win. The Eagles were led by junior guard DeAndre Wilson 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and junior forward Theo Oghides 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assists, 2 blocks.
The mighty Cougars were led by four players as they scored by committee as they have all year. Adam Klie 22 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals; senior guard Marques Robinson 19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; junior guard CJ. Toomer 15 points, 3 rebounds and junior guard Ihro Raguindin 12 points, 3 points.
East Ready For Service
Second ranked East Anchorage T-Birds advanced after a smothering defensive effort against the sixth ranked Eagle River Wolves Friday night in the semi -finals of the Cook Inlet Conference Regional Tournament.
T-Birds went up by fifteen as the first quarter ended. The Wolves would wake up in the third quarter giving fans something to cheer about as they outscored the T-birds 17-12. The fourth quarter the T-Birds expanded on their lead and pushed it to 28 points as the game closed 70-41.
Wolves were led by senior guard Shaquan Rhoades with 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists. Rhoades seemed to have cooled down from Wednesday's game with Dimond. T-Birds again continue to get multiple scorers in double digits. Senior guard Xavier Johnson was wet Friday night with 5-8 from the 3 point line and ending with 19 points. T-birds were also led by senior forward Austin Huss 15 points, 5 rebounds and senior guard Jarred Laws 11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals.
Eagle River played in the 3rd place game Saturday night against 4th ranked West Anchorage with the T-Birds advancing to play the winner of the 1st place Service Cougars in the Championship game.
Service Cougars Win Conference Crown
In 1991 the Service Cougars had a team of talented young players that would handily run through the Cook Inlet Conference. The nucleus of this team was point guard John Craft, shooting guard Lane Lockard, shooting guard Brent Fortuny, hall of famer and former UAA Seawolf Jason Kaiser and big man Jeff Lentfer.
The modern day Cougars look a little different with longer shorts, more diversity in the student body, and Coach Jordan looking on in admiration of the program from afar. Yet the battles with East Anchorage T-birds continue as they have since 1991 and Saturday night proved no different.
The Cougars played second seeded East Anchorage who is the only Alaskan team to claim a win against the Cougars this year. The crowd in the West Gymnasium was excited and anticipating a great game of basketball based off of Friday's semi-final game against the third place West Anchorage Eagles. The game began with speed and energy with both teams moving quickly up the floor and using defensive full court pressure to impose each other's will. With 3:18 left in the first quarter the score is 10-6 Cougars. Sophomore guard Desmond Johnson hits a step back mid-range with 1:33 left in the first quarter, bringing the score to 12-10 Cougars. With a quick score the first quarter ends 13-12 Cougars. Senior forward Austin Huss led the T-Birds with 12 points, 3 rebounds and an assist.
The Cougars began their assault on the T-birds in the second quarter by spreading the court and moving the ball to find an open man. Finding the open man is what they did; Marques Robinson for three 17-12, assist by Ihro Raguindin with 7:30 left in second quarter. With 3:25 left Robinson hits another three, assist Adam Klie 23-18. With 1:50 left in first half Robinson hits his third three with another assist by Klie 27-20. The Cougars close the half with 10 team assists to 1; half time score 20-30 as the Cougars have the biggest lead of the game.
The T-birds struggled in the third quarter, as the Cougars easily handled their pressure and outscored the T-birds 27-9. Leading the way for the Cougars was senior guard and potential player of the year candidate Adam Klie. Klie played like a beast all tournament long and averaged a double-double for the tournament. Klie led the Cougars in scoring with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and Robinson with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists respectively.
The third quarter ended 55-31, and with 2:20 left in the fourth quarter, the substitutions had been made for the night with the starters resting. As the buzzer sounded, the scoreboard flashed 70-45 as the final score with the Cougars making a major statement: "catch us if you can."
Klie stated this is "definitely special for this school and this team; we have not won one since 1991". Robinson said the "early offensive game and the fourth quarter defensive efforts helped them secure this win".