March Madness Hoops Kick Off at the Sullivan Arena

High school students from all over the state come to the big city to compete

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By Heather Hintze
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Story Created: Mar 12, 2012 at 8:39 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 12, 2012 at 8:49 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - March Madness kicked off at the Sullivan Arena, Monday, with 64 basketball teams from around Alaska battling for a state championship title.

"It's a big honor,” said Kilina Klaich, a freshman at Nikolaevsk High School. “I'm so happy we could do this, especially as young as we are. We have a great future ahead.”

Klaich’s school is so small, six of the girls on the team are 8th graders, which means the Warriors had to work even harder to keep up with more experienced teams.

“We're to proud of our girls for getting this far, and working this hard, and the team work and perseverance,” said Kelli Hickman, a parent from Nikolaevsk. “We have no seniors, no juniors. It's all lower classmen so they've worked really hard to get here.”

Due to a scheduling problem the boys’ games were delayed until Monday afternoon, but the players were happy to be spectators, and take in the sights and sounds of the quarterfinals.

"It's exciting to see all the teams from around the state who’ve worked so hard this past year,” said Sergie Chukwak, from Bristol Bay High School.

For many of the smaller communities, basketball is one of the most important sports and plenty of parents came out to support their players.

"They work really hard to keep their grades where they need to be and there's not much else for them to do,” said Hickman. “When they're not doing school work they're out playing basketball because the choices are so limited where we're at.”

On Tuesday, 1A and 2A schools will compete in semifinals and consolation games, with the championship on Wednesday.

On Thursday 3A and 4A teams hit the courts for their quarterfinals with semifinals on Friday and the championship on Saturday.

 

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Dolly I. Kiyutelluk said on Monday, Mar 12 at 10:53 PM

I suggest reporting on the outstanding jobs these High School students have done in the 1A and 2A State Tournament. Today our Shishmaref Northern Lights girls won in over time 40-44 over the Kiana Lynx. It was an exciting game and we are very proud of our girls. The Lynx were ahead for most of the game, and I think your viewers missed out on some great action! I think all the teams in the 1A and 2A State Tournament deserve to be properly recognized for their outstanding effort and abilities, and should put on air. :) Thanks.

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