HS Hockey Tournament; HS Hoops to Valley; Iron Dog nears finish line

DEFENDING CHAMPION HOMER, SOLDOTNA, NORTH POLE AND PALMER WERE WINNERS THURSDAY DURING THE FIRST DAY OF THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 2 HOCKEY TOURNAMENT IN WASILLA.

THE DEFENDING CHAMPION MARINERS SCORED FOUR TIMES IN A ROW AFTER TRAILING 3-2 IN THEIR 6-3 WIN OVER HOUSTON. THE STARS NEEDED OVERTIME TO DOWN MONROE CATHOLIC 6-5. NORTH POLE DOUBLED UP KENAI 4-2 AND PALMER SHUT OUT TRI-VALLEY 11-0 IN THE NIGHTCAP.

TWO CONSOLATION GAMES AND TWO SEMIFINAL GAMES ARE ON THE SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SLATED FOR 1PM SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MENARD IN WASILLA.

WITH MANY CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS STILL IN PLACE IN ANCHORAGE, THE ALASKA SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS WILL BE MOVED TO THE MAT-SU VALLEY. THE TOURNAMENT DRAWS HUNDREDS OF PLAYERS, COACHES AND FANS TO THE ALASKA AIRLINES CENTER AT UAA, BUT WITH OUTSTATE TEAMS NOT ALLOWED TO COMPETE IN THE CITY, ASAA SAID WASILLA, PALMER, COLONY AND COLONY MIDDLE SCHOOLS WILL PROBABLY HOST. 3 AND 4A TOURNAMENTS ARE SCHEDULED FOR LATE MARCH…1 AND 2A EARLY APRIL. IT WAS CAUTIONED THAT PLANS COULD CHANGE.

DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME AS THE IRON DOG NEARS ITS CONCLUSION SATURDAY AT BURKSHORE MARINA ON BIG LAKE.

SETTING THE PACE IS THE TEAM OF BRYAN LESLIE AND CASEY BOYLAN. THEY TOOK A LAYOVER IN MCGRATH, AS HAS THE SECOND PLACE TEAM OF ROBBY SCHACHLE AND BRAD GEORGE. THIRD PLACE BELONGS TO THE TEAM OF MIKE MORGAN AND CHRIS OLDS. THE TOP SIX TEAMS HAVE ALL TAKEN LAYOVERS IN MCGRATH.

SIX TEAMS HAVE SCRATCHED AS OF THURSDAY NIGHT, INCLUDING DEFENDING CHAMPS TYLER AKLESTAD AND BRAD OISTAD.

AND WHILE MOST OF THE ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON THE FRONT-RUNNERS, AND DESERVEDLY SO, THOSE AT THE BACK OF THE PACK ARE CONTINUING THEIR JOURNEY TO THE FINISH LINE, DEALING WITH THEIR OWN ISSUES.

FIRST INTO NOME MONDAY, BUT NOW LAST IN THE STANDINGS, THE BROTHER DUO OF JOSEPH AND ISRAEL HALE HAVE RUN INTO SOME MECHANICAL ISSUES, BUT CONTINUE TO PRESS ON. THEY TOOK A LAYOVER IN GALENA.