Grace Christian’s Kellen Jedlicka. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
The Grace Christian boys basketball team is considered one of the best in all of Alaska. It’s a good argument.
When it comes to Class 3A, though, there is no doubt who is No. 1.
The Grizzlies capped an undefeated season against in-state 3A competition this year after knocking off Nome-Beltz 64-33 in Saturday’s title game of the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska state championships.
The Big 3 of Kellen Jedlicka, Luke Lentfer and Sloan Lentfer combined for 47 points and 30 rebounds for Grace, which ended the season on a 24-game winning streak.
The Grizzlies scored 22 of the game’s first 25 points to put this one to bed by the second quarter. They were good, good.
It’s no surprise.
Grace (26-2) has been great all season, with both losses coming all the way back in December to Seattle-based Eastside Catholic and the reigning 4A state champion East T-birds.
Grace Christian’s Sloan Lentfer. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
And then, of course, in January the Grizzlies produced the biggest win for Alaska basketball in several years after beating Heritage Christian out of the Los Angeles area in the title game of the Alaska Airlines Classic.
It was a tall task for Nome. Literally.
Grace’s starting frontcourt features 6-foot-7 Sloan Lentfer, 6-5 Jedlicka and 6-2 Luke Lentfer. They played big and dominated.
Jedlicka led the way in scoring with 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting. His back-to-back buckets in the second quarter pushed Grace’s lead to 31-9.
“We really harped on it could by anyone’s night. Tonight it was just mine,” said Jedlicka. “Two nights ago, it was Hunter’s, last night it was Sloan’s. Every night it’s something different. We really pride ourselves on that.”
Nome’s Finn Gregg. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Cousins Sloan Lentfer and Luke Lentfer each delivered double-doubles in their final high school game together.
Sloan had 14 points and 17 rebounds while Luke had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Luke scored seven of his team’s first 10 points.
This is the fourth state title for Grace under a coach named Boerger – with Jason coaching the Grizzlies to championships in 2023 and 2017 and his dad Chuck being an assistant to Nate Davis on championship teams in 2000 and 2001.
“My dad would say, ‘If you hang around a barber shop long enough you’re going to get a haircut,’” Jason said. “So eventually we got it done here, so that was good.”
Father’s Day came early in more ways than one.
Grace Christian coach Jason Boeger hugs his son Braeden. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Late in the fourth quarter, the sons of both head coaches found their way into the scoring column.
Nome’s Patrick Callahan’s kid Deacon scored on a drive and Boerger’s boy Braeden buried a 3-point shot.
Deacon Callahan’s bucket might have gotten the biggest reaction from the Nome faithful in attendance at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Nome (24-3) had a tough ending to a terrific season. Jade Greene hit three 3s and pumped in a team-high 11 points. Finn Gregg scored six straight points in the third quarter to get the Nanooks within 44-26.