Scammon Bay rolls to Rex Rock Tip-Off Classic title
by Tommy Wells
If you didn’t know the Scammon Bay Blackbirds were good before the Rex Rock Tip-Off Classic, consider yourself notified.
Scammon Bay defeated Point Hope by a 49-47 clip on Saturday, Jan. 21, and cruised to the championship of the annual basketball tournament. The SBHS team went 4-1 in the event.
The Blackbird opened the tournament with a bang. Scammon Bay hit the 100-point plateau for the second time this season in their opener, downing Buckland by a 100-74 margin.
The Blackbirds, who were paced by Chance Hunter, didn’t miss a beat in the second round. They dealt Kiana a 72-42 setback and advanced into the semifinals to face Point Hope.
Point Hope stunned Scammon Bay in the semifinals, taking a 68-65 decision.
With the loss, the Blackbirds fell into the consolation bracket.
Scammon Bay roared back from the loss. They defeated Noatak by a 60-49 clip in the consolation semifinals, and earned a rematch against Point Hope in the championship game.
Scammon Bay knocked down several clutch shots in the second half and defeated Point Hope by a 49-47 clip.
Justin Ulak and Scott Kaganak also played well in the tournament. Both were named to the all-star squad. Hunter was tabbed the tournament’s MVP.
The SCHS girls went 2-2 in the tournament, falling to Noatak twice.
The Lady Blackbirds, who were led by Ashleigh Naneng, posted a 51-50 win over Buckland and a 49-45 decision over Kiana.
Rex Rock Tip-Off Classic All Tournament Selections
MVP:
Boys - Chance Hunter, Scammon Bay
Girls - Caroline Long, Point Hope
Three-Point Champion
Girls: Lila Barger, Buckland
Boys: Nathan Hadley, Buckland
Free Throw Champion
Boys: Makhayl Sundown – Scammon Bay
Girls: Doreen Hadley – Buckland
All-Tournament:
Justin Ulak, Scammon Bay
Nathan Hadley III, Bucklnd
Denzel Tooyak, Tikigaq
Anthony Ashby , Noatak
Buff Shuerch, Kiana
Ronald Oviok III, Tikigaq
Scott Kaganak, Scammon Bay
Stephanie Washington, Buckland
Abbie Koenig, Tikigaq
Trisha Norton, Noatak
Ashley Nanenq, Scammon Bay
Chelsea Tooyak, Tikigaq
Lila Barger, Buckland
Brianna Kirk, Noatak