Tok, Alaska
Fourteen teams are competing in Tok, Alaska for two spots at State. Follow all the action at the 2011 Central Interior Conference Tournament at AlaskanAthlete.com.
Not my granddad, but Bob Gorden, Ryan and Kristen Scholten’s granddad. Bob was kind enough to write an article about TKA famous as well as about his grandchildren’s accomplishments this past weekend. This may seem a little self-serving, but here’s a link to both of his articles:
Granddad on Grandchildren
Granddad on TALKEETNA famous
I sincerely appreciate the kind words, although that sleeping in the car thing was supposed to be a secret. As soon as the folks at Tri-Valley got wind of it, they demanded that I couch surf. I had a husky with me, and an incredible sleeping bag. I don’t want to gush, but the experiences that I have had in Healy over the past two months have provided more than enough warmth to endure the wind and weather.
Kristen and Ryan, photo by Letitia Talerico
Ryan and Kristen are two charming and hard working young adults. These characteristics run throughout their family, and their community.
As I have mentioned, I am a little overwhelmed with Talkeetna based responsibilities right now. I’m posting from work, but I’ll make it up. However, I will follow Bob’s lead and start acknowledging a few accomplishments.
Sportsmanship Award, Birchwood Christian
I had a chance to chat with a few of these lads. Why are they such good sportsmen? Because they smile a lot, play hard, and then smile a lot. Sounds easy right? Well, give it a shot.
I discussed the accomplishments of Katherine Albert, Walter Northway Lady Warrior and tournament M.V.P., at length. I owe equal time to Eli Morse, Kenny Lake Hawk and tournament M.V.P.
I don’t go to basketball tournaments to be touched. I dig backdoor cuts, 30 foot bounce passes, catch and shoot jumpers, and ankle breaking double crosses. I’m a guard. However, the single most touching moment of the tournament, for me, was the minute long handshake with mouth to ear quiet conversation in a loud gym as time expired for a hometown championship that occurred between the Kenny Lake coach, Jesse Heinbaugh, who could diagram this sentence, and Eli Morse. It was an expression of commitment and admiration. I assumed it was a career ending conversation. Might not have been, as Eli is a junior, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he is graduating early.
Eli scored 101 points in six games for the Hawks. He and Dominique Bell are the bespectacled, dynamic duo. Morse is a guard, a forward, and a center. He owns and maintains prime real estate. There’s a lot of competition. Kenny Lake uses a two-point offense, with Eli Morse occupying the center of the floor, screening for Bell, kicking out to David Helkenn and Joey Leonard, or high-lowing to Caleb Helkenn. Add to that scoring and rebounding: Eli Morse does both. I don’t have the statistics available to fully describe the triple threat, but Eli Morse does it all. I must compliment the coaches for voting Eli Morse the M.V.P. Sometimes the overall contributions of an athlete can go overlooked, particularly when that athlete’s team doesn’t win the tournament. 101 points help. Congratulations Eli Morse, M.V.P. 2010 Central Interior Conference Tournament. Well earned.
Eli Morse, Hawk, M.V.P.
I wish I had a photo of Eli’s coach, but that big man kinda blends. The camera couldn’t find him.
There is so much more to say about the 2010 Central Interior Conference Tournament, and there’s time. Thanks again Bob, and all who had as much fun as I did. Okay, even if you had a little less fun than I did.
Walter Northway Warriors
Tri-Valley Viking Warriors
The top seeds prevailed at the 2010 Central Interior Conference Tournament. The Tri-Valley Viking Warriors and the Walter Northway Lady Warriors stamped their Dance cards with clean runs to and through the Championship games.
Katherine Albert and Jessica Dillard
Katherine Albert paced the Lady Warriors’ efforts. She not only scored 75 points in three games, but provided emotional and spiritual leadership for a team whose only scare came by way of injury. Desiree Demit played sparing minutes in the Lady Warriors’ opening game against Tri-Valley due to a knee injury that she acquired several weeks ago. Demit then put up 14 points in Northway’s 70-26 semi-final win over Effie Kokrine, erasing all concerns. However, with four minutes left in the third quarter of the championship game, Desiree Demit drove the baseline, scored a bucket, drew a foul, but went to the floor in pain. It appeared to all in the gym that Demit’s season was over. Her teammates spent the five minute break weeping. Katherine Albert consoled each and every teammate, rubbing their backs, holding their shoulders and hands, and giving Tasha Demit a long hug. When play continued the Northway squad was clearly rattled. Effie Kokrine scored nine unanswered points in just over two minutes of play, cutting the lead to 34-27. After a Northway time out, Katherine Albert took matters into her own hands. She took an inbound pass at mid-court, drove left to the top of the key, crossed over, worked her way to the right wing, found a lane to the baseline, and scored from eight feet, as her teammates watched. The Northway crowd and Albert’s teammates snapped back to life. Albert secured three rebounds, and Tasha Demit scored on a put back to give the Northway Warriors a 38-27 lead at the end of three. After Effie Kokrine’s Shannon Hosken drained a three to start the fourth, Albert responded with a three of her own. Much to everyone’s surprise and concern, Desiree Demit would return to action two minutes into the fourth quarter. With three minutes left, and the Effie Kokrine Warriors within six, Desiree Demit drew a charge on Shalene Huntington erasing a breakaway bucket that would have electrified the Effie Kokrine crowd. Demit then scored the next bucket, and Northway never looked back. Katherine Albert scored eight fourth quarter points to keep her team even in the fourth, and allow the Northway Lady Warriors to qualify for the State tournament with a 50-40 win.
Desiree Demit, Northway Lady Warrior
Katherine Albert, M.V.P.
Taniesha Emry, Northway Lady Warrior
Coach Albert of the Northway Lady Warriors
Northway Lady Warriors w/o Desiree
Desiree, Katherine, and Tasha
photo by Brian Swett
The Tri-Valley Viking Warriors cruised to victory at the 2010 Central Interior Conference Tournament. Marauders for sure, the Viking Warriors posted, 59-7, 48-37, 67-40, and 52-24 victories to earn a berth at next week’s State tournament. 23 and 16 point outbursts from Sean McKenzie, furious ball movement and defense from Jonathan Talerico, Andrew Talerico and Ryan Scholten, and steady rebounding from Forest Shreeve was far more than any opponent could match over a four day period. Coach Colin Keith’s squad operated and executed on a level unavailable to others. No suspense, just destiny, as the Viking Warriors completed the regular and post season undefeated in conference play.
All-Tournament Viking Warriors
Another net, one to go
Forest Shreeve cuts nylon
One big, happy, Talerico family
Sean McKenzie, 47 points in three games
While my heart is still in Healy, I am a little overwhelmed with responsibilities here in Talkeetna. Thanks to Brian Swett and Letitia Talerico, I have many photos to sort through and share. There are second and third place teams to congratulate, and all-tournament and all-academic teams to honor. It will be Warrior week here on Talkeetna famous. There will be photos of many of the players that participated in this weekend’s Central Interior Conference Tournament, but I need a little time to gather it all together. Thank you to everyone who worked hard to make the tournament so pleasurable. Congratulations to the Lady Warriors from Northway and the Viking Warriors. Good skill at State, luck if needed. There are links to the State schedule below.
Boys 2A State Schedule
Girls 2A State Schedule
Lady Viking Warriors
The Tri-Valley Viking Warriors and the Kenny Lake Hawks are in the Ship. The Warriors are one win away from State. The Hawks are playing their second game of the day, and it will take three, including two wins against the Viking Warriors if they are to make it to State.
First Quarter:
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Second Quarter:
note: the second quarter was interrupted by an injury. The second quarter is continued below.
Third Quarter:
Fourth Quarter:
The #2 seed Effie Kokrine Warriors have earned a second shot at the #1 seed Northway Warriors. Shannon Hosken and Shalene Huntington led Effie Kokrine to a convincing 52-36 win over Kenny Lake with 19 and 13 points respectively. Hosken has tallied 43 points to lead all Effie Kokrine scorers through three games. Nelowa Nusunginya and Huntington have cleared the boards all weekend, and Rachel Kokrine and Heather Dozette have handled the ball and spearheaded the Warriors defensive efforts.
However, Katherine Albert and the Walter Northway Warriors have been invincible thus far at the 2010 Central Interior Conference Tournament. Albert scored 30 points in Northway’s dominating victory over Effie Kokrine last night, and 22 in the Warriors’ win over Tri-Valley. Desiree Demit and Tasha Demit added 14 and 11 points respectively in the Warriors winning effort last night. Shanice Albert has contributed 12 points in the Warriors two games, and Jessica Dillard has provided aggressive defense throughout.
The ladies’ Ship is set to sail. Effie Kokrine will need to win twice in order to earn a berth in the State Tournament. If Northway wins this one, they’re heading south.
note: the third quarter was interrupted by an injury. The quarter continues below.
Four Quarter:
The #2 seed Kenny Lake hawks have worked their way back to championship contention after a second round upset loss to Northway. Dominique Bell poured in 21 points two games back and Eli Morse followed with 23 points in yesterday’s win over Effie Kokrine. They will try to join forces and get the Hawk’s boys squad to the championship game that eluded the girls. Northway will try to bounce back from a lopsided loss to the #1 seed Tri-Valley Viking Warriors. Todd Demit and Brandon Teasdale have led their effort, but both were injured in last night’s game. We’ll see how they feel today.
The seeds have held in the Girls Bracket. The #2 seed Effie Kokrine Warriors and the #3 seed Kenny Lake Hawks play with a ticket to the Ship on the line. If either of these teams is to earn a trip to the State Tournament, they will have to play and win three games today. That trip starts with this game.
photo by Letitia Talerico
Kenny Lake and Effie Kokrine will both play their second game of the day. Kenny Lake topped Wasilla Lake 50-46 in the tournaments most exciting game to stay alive in the tournament; Effie Kokrine topped Birchwood 47-31. Four teams are left in the Boys Bracket, but only one of these two can advance. The winner plays Walter Northway tomorrow.
The Tri-Valley Lady Viking Warriors and the Kenny Lake Lady Hawks need a win to stay afloat in the 2010 Central Interior Conference Tournament. The Viking Warriors kept their hopes alive this morning as Windy Gore pushed them to a 33-16 victory with 16 points. Kristen Scholten added 10 in the winning effort. The Hawks used balanced scoring to top the Birchwood Christian Warriors 38-23 this morning. Samantha Knutson, Hannah Rosenkrans and Kailey Wilson all scored 8 points in the win.
First quarter:
Todd Demit and Brandon Teasdale have led the #3 seed Walter Northway Warriors to a semi-final matchup against the #1 seed Tri-Valley Viking Warriors. The Viking Warriors used 12 points from Forest Shreeve and 11 from Ryan Scholten to outlast the Effie Kokrine Warriors on route to this semi-final game on their home floor. The Northway Warriors would like to make it an all Northway final, but Tri-Valley would rather the home town crowd left happy.
