Championship Week and More

The Arctic Slope boys and girls basketball teams provided an outstanding display of skill and sportsmanship at the Alaska State High School Championships last week.

The Point Hope boys won their second consecutive title under Coach Rex Rock, led by Ebrulik “Skittles” Frankson, Zach Lane and Adam Sage. They became the first 2A team since 1989 – 1990 to repeat as State Champions. The Point Hope girls, with one of the youngest teams in the State, managed a sixth place finish and gave notice of a bright future.

In the 1A ranks, the boys from Anaktuvuk Pass made in all the way to the championship game before dropping a hard fought 43 – 31 decision to Napaskiak. The Wainwright girls captured two victories at State including a 54 – 40 victory over Kwethluk to finish third. The Alak team, similar to Point Hope, returns their entire starting lineup for 2010 – 2011.

At the 3A level, the Barrow girls put on a gutsy performance to capture a victory on basketball’s biggest stage. Their 5^th place finish this season should get a tremendous boost next year with the return of five players, suspended earlier in the season, and an outstanding middle school team. The BHS boys will also be a force to be reckoned with in 2011. The Whaler boys captured 3^rd place by upsetting Heritage Christian on the opening night and soundly thumping Mt. Edgecombe to finish out the tournament in style.

Sportsmanship at Its Best!

Perhaps the most impressive display of sportsmanship I have ever witnessed came at the hands of the Nunamiut boys. These young men not only, as a team, shook hands with an opponent who fouled out of a contest, they routinely congratulated an opponent for a made free throw. My hat is off to the coach (Homer) and players from Anaktuvuk Pass.

Basketball on the Rise!

Just a few statistics I thought you might enjoy to show the growing excellence of basketball on the Slope in the past seven years:

1983 – 2003 During this twenty year period, the Slope produced 4 State Championship teams in 1A, 2A and 3A, boys and girls combined. They also produced 7 runner-up finishes.

2004 – 2010 The Slope has produced 6 State Championship teams and 6 runner-up finishes in almost one third the amount of time.

Mentoring the Next Generation of Coaches

If you were at the State Tournament you may have seen two young men by my side. Lloyd Pikok and Christian Young of Point Lay spent the week job shadowing last week to learn the ins and outs of coaching. They will now be returning to Point Lay to put some of their new skills to work in organizing youth basketball programs.

Final News and Notes

• In the next week, I will be selecting boys and girls to travel to the Pacific Northwest to visit schools and play basketball in front of college coaches. Last year, 15 of 19 participants went on to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.
• Matt Lewis and Sam Sokaitis will be continuing the Challenge Life Music Program in Nuiqsut, Anaktuvuk Pass, Barrow and Kaktovik over the next few weeks. They will also be recording songs and sounds with local artists.
• Joe Sage is still working out the details of our “Young Hunters” club which should commence activities in the late Spring.
• The Point Hope boys and girls cross country team are preparing for their summer trip to Colorado.
• Challenge Life is setting up a schedule of fun summer activities in all eight Slope communities.
• Basketball team camp is right around the corner, stay tuned for more information.

Have A Great Week!

Mike and Al

“Challenge Life”

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