Susitna Valley High School was host to a high school basketball tournament for the first time in twenty plus years this weekend. I hope you were there. 108 athletes demonstrated an exceptional balance between sportsmanship and competitive vigor. The final day delivered more Madness than the average March. There were two champions, and many winners.
Crowley Classic All-Tournament Team
left to right:
Haley Tyler, Nenana—Daphne Williams, Nenana—Chasity Herbert, Fort Yukon—Kat Wollett, Susitna Valley—Leyla Sinyawski, Valley Christian—Sierra O’Connor, Susitna Valley—Sierra Pedersen, Susitna Valley—Bailey Stevenson, Susitna Valley
105 points (28,43,34) in 3 games
Not Pictured:
Rachael Smith, Matanuska Christian—Kelsie McGraw, Cornerstone
Paxson Matthews, Susitna Valley—Edwin Waskey, Nenana—Dylan Figley, Susitna Valley—Darell Pine, Valley Christian—Jon Turner, Valley Christian—Timothey Standifer, Nenana
Not pictured:
Jared Wood, Wings Christian—Roland James, Fort Yukon—Alexander Pettey, Wings Christian—Nick Swain, Whittier
Fort Yukon Lady Eagles
Coach Jerry Carroll, 24 Karissa Carroll, 31 Chasity Herbert, 30 Micala Peter, 32 Kandace Carroll, 12 April Peter
Wings Christian Eagles
Alexander Pettey, Jared Wood, Caden MacLellan, Brandon Saunders, Mathew Grant—Coach Bill Wood (not pictured)
James Sickler, Tournament Director
He didn’t do it alone, but James Sickler, Susitna Valley High School Athletic Director, Girls Varsity Basketball Coach, and 2010 Crowley Classic Tournament Director engaged with, encouraged and organized a tremendous amount of energy this weekend. For that, he has been named the 2010 Crowley Classic Tournament Overall M.V.P. The inaugural Crowley Classic was an enormous success. I, for one, can’t wait for the next one.
Susitna Valley Rams 60
The second Ship has sailed. The Nenana Lynx and Susitna Valley Rams rebuild their Parks Highway rivalry. One week after meeting in the third place game at the Nenana Invitational Tournament, the Rams and Lynx try again. This time there is a Championship on the line.
First quarter:
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Second quarter:
Third quarter:
Fourth quarter:
Nenana Lynx (second place)
The Ships are set to sail. Will Kandace Carroll carry the Fort Yukon girls to a Championship and herself to M.V.P. honors, or do the Susitna Valley Rams have the Answer? Sierra Pedersen, Bailey Stevenson and Kat Wolett have led a strong Rams attack to the championship game. Can they outpace the Eagles and find a way to control the Everything? Kandace Carroll has 71 points in the Crowley Classic thus far, and is looking to win her second M.V.P. trophy in as many weekends.
Our Lady Rams
Two evenly matched teams angle for third in the second boys game of the final day at the Crowley Classic. Nick Swain leads the Whittier Eagles with significant help from Justin Lipscomb and Alex Phillips. Swain has scored 45 points in the tournament thus far. The five man Wings Christian Eagles team is led by Alexander Petty and Jared Wood, with considerable assistance from Caden MacLellen.
Whittier Eagles
The Nenana Lady Lynx and the Valley Christian Lady Bears battle for third place in the Girls’ Bracket of the Crowley Classic. The Lynx have been led by Haley Tyler, who has scored 49 points in two games, not to mention creating 20 plus turnovers. The Valley Christian team is led by three Sinyawskis. Yana picked up 16 points in the Bear’s first game, as Leyla contributed 14. All 14 of Leyla’s points followed offensive rebounds. Gerriam Kruger added 12 points against Matanuska Christian. The Vallley Christian Bears will try to use a balanced attack to beat a strong Nenana Lynx team. The winner takes third place in the Girls’ Bracket.
Valley Christian Bears
Roland James and Jared Peter try to lead the Fort Yukon Eagles to their first victory of the Crowley Classic as they match up against a Valley Christian Bears team that will be led by Jon Turner and Darell Pine. The Valley Christian team has the unenviable task of playing early today after absorbing a tough loss to the Susitna Valley Rams in last night’s final game. Darell Pine scored 16 in last night’s 56-45 loss to the Rams. It was a four point game late, but everything changed when Jon Turner fouled out after battling foul trouble throughout the game. It’s Fort Yukon vs. Valley Christian in the Boys’ Bracket fifth place game.
The final day at the Crowley Classic starts with a fifth place game between the ladies from Matanuska Christian and Cornerstone. The Cornerstone Spartans are led by Rhonda Greeno and Kelsie McGraw. The Eagles are led by captain Rachel Smith, but will have to play without co-captain Katie Statz, as only five Eagles were able to make the trip today. Both teams are looking for their first win and a fifth place finish.
Matanuska Christian Eagles
Cornerstone Spartans
The table is set. Let’s eat! The following is the schedule for the final day at the Crowley Classic. If you are in range, come on out to Susitna Valley High School to partake. If not, follow along on TALKEETNA famous.
Fifth place games
9:00 am Matanuska Christian Eagles vs. Cornerstone Spartans (girls)
10:30 am Fort Yukon Eagles vs. Valley Christian Bears (boys)
Third place games
12:00 pm Nenana Lynx vs. Valley Christian Bears (girls)
1:30 pm Wings Christian Eagles vs. Whittier (boys)
Championship Games
3:00 pm Susitna Valley Rams vs. Fort Yukon Eagles (girls)
4:30 pm Susitna Valley Rams vs. Nenana Lynx (boys
The Susitna Valley Rams are a win away from the Ship. Valley Christian won’t make it easy. The Rams defeated Whittier on the opening night of the tournament. The Bears lost to Whittier earlier today. The Rams get to play in front of their first ever packed house in their new home gym. Now they need one win to reach the Championship Game in the first annual Crowley Classic.
