Cook Inlet Academy outlasted Nikolaevsk in triple overtime, 43-39 to win a dramatic state 1A girls basketball championship Wednesday at Sullivan Arena. The title is the first for the Eagles girls program. Darlene Bunts sank her only field goal, a baseline layup with 28 seconds left in the third overtime to give CIA the lead for good. At the end of the first overtime, Nikolaevsk's Kayla Stafford was fouled shooting a jumper at the buzzer and could have given the Warriors the title, but she made one of two from the free throw line, sending the game to a second overtime period, tied at 39.
In the boys 1A title contest, Klawock picked up its first state championship since 1985, denying Noorvik a second straight crown, 55-43. Tyrus Morgan led the Chieftains with 20 points while Sam Rew added 17. Klawock soared to a 31-15 lead and never looked back, shooting nearly 50 percent for the game. State 1A Player of the Year Danny Wells netted 25 points for the Bears, but took 27 field goals to get that total. Noorvik won it all in the 2A classification last year. Klawock had previously dropped its most recent title game appearances at the 2A level, in 2010 and 2011.
In the 2A girls championship contest, Craig claimed its first state championship in program history by edging Dillingham, 31-29. Katie and Maggie Dinon scored 10 points apiece for the Panthers, who won despite managing only one point in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines, who made only 12 of 59 shots from the field, cut the lead to two in the fourth quarter before coming up short. Craig did catch fire in the third quarter, nailing 7 of 12 from the field.
Rounding out the night at Sullivan Arena, Hooper Bay survived a scoreless first quarter to beat Metlakatla, 51-28 in the boys 2A championship game. 2A Player of the Year Kacy Green led the comeback effort with 22 points. The Warriors had previously played in only one title game all-time, in 1990.
