The defending State Champions, the Point Hope boys, look poised to make a run at a repeat. I had the
opportunity to watch Rex’s group win the Chevak tournament this week and they were very impressive
at both ends of the floor. They play hard and they play together, a nice recipe for winning.

The Point Hope women’s team, meanwhile, played in a tournament with two of the
top teams in the State. Point Hope joined two time defending State Champs, the Yakutat Eagles and a Chevak Comet squad on a mission
since the passing of their head coach a year ago. In a battle that could be repeated at State, host Chevak nipped
Point Hope by one point on the games final possession only to lose to Yakutat by the same slim one point margin in the final. Ramona Rock, despite the loss of
one of the region’s best point guards to graduation (they miss you Tammy) has the girls playing tough. The girls have a tough region and road to
the State Tournament but will certainly be well prepared.

In the 1A boy’s ranks, if the village tournament held in Barrow is any indication, the regionals will be a knock down, dragged out affair. Three teams
heading to Point Lay for the regionals, Anaktuvuk Pass, Atqasuk and Wainwright look to be the front runners but as they say (or at least Robert
Service kind of said) “there are strange things done in the midnight sun by the boys trying to win a tournament.” Okay, I took a little journalistic liberty.
On a more serious note, I think that although upsets happen, Anaktuvuk Pass, Atqasuk and Wainwright look strong and I could see a Anaktuvuk
Pass versus Atqasuk final for all the marbles.

On the women’s side, Edna, once again has a young Wainwright team playing like a veteran unit. Wainwright is looking to return to Anchorage and capture another title but I am sure Becky has plans of her own for the Atqasuk ladies to cut down the nets. Throw in a few more weeks of preparation and a surprise team can emerge from
any village.

The Barrow boys and girls will carry the hopes of the region to the 3A affair. In what I feel to be the toughest region in years, the boys will have to fight through
Bethel and an extremely strong Nome squad to earn one of the two tickets to Anchorage. Jeremy has the boys playing hard. At the State level, however, everyone
plays hard and Coach is focussing on getting his troups to play hard and smart.

The Barrow girls are excited about rolling through regionals and getting back to Anchorage. Some early season contests against top teams from throughout the
State have prepared our young ladies on what to expect to win it all. Now, it’s a matter of focus and determination. I like their chances.

That’s the news from the hardwood and some observations over the past week. Good luck to all!

Al Sokaitis
Challenge Life