Tikigaq’s Jennifer Nash. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Just call Tikigaq ‘Title Town.’
Led by sophomore superstar Jennifer Nash, the Point Hope girls basketball team mauled Metlakatla 55-33 in the Class 2A title game of the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska state tournament in Anchorage.
Tikigaq has won four state championships since 2018 under coach Ramona Rock, who led her team to back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 after going back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.
Nash scored 20 points and was 5-for-9 on 3-pointers. She canned a corner 3 in the final seconds of the second quarter, leaving her right hand in the air just a little bit longer.
It was that kind of night for the all-state guard. Sporting neon yellow shoes, she directed the offense like a crossing guard.
Tikigaq moved the ball well and racked up 12 assists on 22 field goals. At one point the Lady Harpooners had helpers on five straight buckets, the last one coming on another Nash 3-pointer that made it 21-10.
Nash pumped in 11 points in the first half as Tikigaq built a 30-18 advantage at halftime.
Tikigaq’s Tatyana Nashookpu. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Teammate Tatyana Nashookpuk scored all nine of her points in the first half and Jadyn Lane finished with 10 points and seven assists. Lane converted a breakaway layup to break the buzzer in the first quarter, giving her seven of her the team’s first 12 points.
Nash’s third 3-pointer of the night helped the lead swell to 35-18.
Tikigaq finished the season with a 19-3 record and won its final five games.
Both teams traveled a ton to reach Anchorage, with Metlakatla coming 1,139 miles and Tikigaq 695. This is the second time they have met this season in Rage City, with the Lady Harpooners scoring a 70-58 win at the Alaska Airlines Classic in January.
Metlakatla struggled early from the field but made up for it at the free-throw line, sinking 8-of-10 attempts.
Bree Chavez led the Chiefs with 15 points, including a 5-of-6 clip at the foul line. Kennedy Cook went 8-for-10 at the line.
Chavez, a speedy guard, scored on consecutive fastbreak layups late in the first half, the second one pulling Metlakatla within 27-18 inside the final minute.
Metlakatla came into the title game riding an 11-game winning streak to turn its season around after a 4-6 start.
Metlakatla’s Kennedy Cook. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report