by Greg Lincoln
The VFW Post 10041 and the Bethel Regional High School Warriors hosted the 2023 VFW Invitational Basketball Tournament this past weekend, February 2-4, 2023 at the WarriorDome.
The Kwethluk Lady Carayiit and the Scammon Bay Eagles were victorious. Other teams participating in the tournament included boys and girls teams: the Bethel JV host team, Aniak Halfbreeds, Palmer Moose JV, Toksook Bay Islanders, Kalskag Grizzlies, the Dillingham Wolverines, and the Akiachak Lady Huskies.
The Palmer Moose varsity teams also came to play with the Warrior varsity teams.
The Kwethluk Lady Carayiit defeated the Aniak Lady Halfbreeds in the opening round. They went on to defeat the Lady Islanders of Toksook Bay in the semifinals.
The Lady Carayiit won over the Scammon Bay Lady Eagles 53-47 in the championship game. Amerika McDalton and Shelby Shien scored in the double digits for their team, 17 and 14. The Lady Eagles’ April Utteryuk made 22 points.
On the boys’ bracket, the Scammon Bay Eagles defeated the Dillingham Wolverines in the first round. They also beat their rivals in the semis – the Toksook Bay Islanders whom they had recently lost to in another tournament.
The Eagles defeated the Aniak Halfbreeds 75-64 to win the tournament championship. Josiah Sundown, Jerry Kaganak, and Stewie Sundown all scored in the doubles, 25, 17, and 15. Ryan Steeves of Kalskag had the high score for his team, 24. His teammates Deven Dallman, Shaun Levi, and Dylan Nicholson also scored double digits – 11, 11, and 10.
Bethel Regional High School provided livestreaming of all the games, Palmer Bailey was the announcer, and the Delta Illusion Dance Company performed a number during on Saturday for the tournament.
2023 VFW Post #10041 Tournament Results
Girls
1st: Kwethluk Lady Carayiit
2nd: Scammon Bay Lady Eagles
All Tournament Team
April Utteryuk, Scammon Bay
Ciuk Slats, Akiachak
Weslyn River, Scammon Bay
Maya Ayagalria, Bethel
Amirika McDalton, Kwethluk
Kelsey Charlie, Kwethluk
Laney Woods, Dillingham
Cadence Dray, Dillingham
Cheyenne Steeves, Aniak
Gloria Sipary, Toksook Bay
Boys
1st: Scammon Bay Eagles
2nd: Aniak Halfbreeds
All Tournament Team
Aiden Byrd, Kalskag
Nolan Garner, Palmer
Josiah Sundown, Scammon Bay
Dawson Angaiak, Toksook Bay
Deven Dallman, Aniak
Cassius Sundown, Scammon Bay
Charles Maxie, Toksook Bay
Stewie Sundown, Scammon Bay
Aaron Mute, Bethel
Aidan Sipary, Toksook Bay
