Conference and non-conference basketball pairings filled Saturday’s high school basketball schedule with Kenai hosting SoHi and Nikiski at home against Grace Christian School.
Kenai vs SoHi @ KCHS
For nearly forty years the Kenai vs SoHi basketball games marked the end of the regular season and the jumping-off point to the post-season for two teams in the same conference located ten miles apart.
In 2019, the Kardinals and the Stars meet twice in four days, play in different conferences and classifications, have remaining games on the schedule following the Kenai-SoHi games; the only constant–the two schools do remain 10 miles apart.
SoHi Girls 52 – Kenai 38
An early 6-0 run in the game’s first 1:30 staked SoHi to a lead which they never surrender en route to a 52-38 victory over Kenai in non-conference basketball on Saturday. The Stars lead 16-10 after one quarter and 28-21 at the half. Kenai closed to within five points in the third quarter; however, the Stars outscored the Kardinals 17-8 in the final quarter for the 52-38 win. Itu Tuisaula lead the Stars with 20 points on ten field goals; Brittani Blossom added 15 points, nine in the final eight minutes. Kenai’s Brooke Satathite scored 13 for the Kardinals.
SoHi Boys 52 – Kenai 40
The Soldotna boys and Kenai boys battled through three quarters with SoHi leading by a basket or two in a tightly-played non-conference contest on Saturday. The Stars pulled-away for a 52-40 victory on the strength of a 12-4, fourth quarter run. SoHi lead 29-26 at the half and 40-36 after three quarters. Jersey Truesdell scored 29 points including six, three-point baskets to lead the Stars. Adam Trujillo and Andrew Bezdecny each scored 9 for the Kardinals.
The Kardinals and Stars meet again on Tuesday, February 26 at Soldotna High School with the girls scheduled for 6 p.m. and the boys varsity at 7:30 p.m. Follow the games on ESPN 1140AM and on the webstream at www.radiokenai.com.
Nikiski Girls 77 – Grace Christian 56
Nikiski bounced-back with a Southcentral Conference victory on Saturday 77-56 over the Grace Grizzlies at Nikiski. Bethany Carstens scored 36 points for the Bulldog girls. The Bulldogs improve to 8-1 in the SSC and have one remaining conference game on Friday, March 1st against Homer at Nikiski. The Bulldogs also host SoHi on Thursday in a non-divisional game at Nikiski.
Nikiski Boys 39 – Grace Christian 52
The Nikiski boys drop to 4-5 in the Southcentral Conference with a 52-38 loss to Grace Christian. Jace Kornstad scored 15 for the Bulldogs. Nikiski trailed 31-12 at the half. The Bulldogs have one remaining conference game on Friday, March 1st against Homer at Nikiski. The Bulldogs also host SoHi on Thursday in a non-divisional game at Nikiski.
Other Saturday Basketball Scores:
ACS Boys 83 – Homer 44
ACS Girls receive forfeit from Homer 2-0
