Nome’s Finn Gregg. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
It may have taken a little longer, but the Nome-Beltz Nanooks are headed back to the Class 3A boys state title game.
Finn Gregg and Jade Greene on Thursday combined for 47 points to lift Nome to a thrilling 68-63 double overtime victory over Houston in the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska state tournament semifinals at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Gregg scored a game-high 27, Greene added 20 and the defending state champion Nanooks ran their winning streak to 17 games as they advanced to the title game against Grace Christian in a rematch of the 2022 final.
Twice, Greene scored the game-tying bucket near the final minute to extend the game. His driving layup with 54 seconds left in the fourth quarter forced overtime and his layup with 1:18 left in the first OT forced another extra session.
The Nanooks’ defense was nails down the stretch as they held Houston without a point over the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds.
Midway through the second OT, Gregg was fouled during a tough layup that led to a free throw and that three-point play pushed Nome’s lead to 66-63 at the 2:10 mark.
Houston’s Cole Taylor shoots over Nome’s Richard Cross. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Nome’s Richard Scott chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds. He also converted the first points of the second OT after cashing in on an offensive rebound putback while falling.
Nome (24-2) outscored Houston 27-6 from 3-point range, with Greene hitting four treys and Gregg and Cross each knocking down a pair of triples.
Houston’s Hayden Howard scored 21 points, Deegan VanDussen grabbed 13 rebounds, Keldin Nicoll scored 15 points and Cole Taylor had 14 points. Taylor scored all six of his team’s points across two OTs.
After starting the season 3-3, Houston won 21 of its next 22 games before dropping a tough decision to Nome in one of the best games of the tournament.
Grace Christian reached the championship game after beating Mt. Edgecumbe 50-33 in the semifinals.
Mt. Edgecumbe defenders box in Grace’s Kellen Jedlicka. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Cousins Luke Lentfer and Sloan Lentfer combined for 23 points and 25 rebounds for the Grizzlies, the hottest team in the state with a 23-game winning streak.
Luke scored 13 points and Sloan ripped down 13 rebounds.
Hunter Finch was the team’s other double-digit scorer with 12 points.
Grace took command with a 21-12 run in the second quarter and then held a 21-win Mt. Edgecumbe squad to 11 points in the second half.
Mt. Edgecumbe’s Kaison Hermann pumped in a game-high 18 points and was 7-of-8 from the foul line.
Grace has suffered just one loss to a 3A team in two seasons – and it came against Nome in last year’s state final when Dawson Schaeffer hit a runner with 18 seconds left to provide a 49-47 victory, giving Nome its first state title since 1983.
Mt. Edgecumbe’s Jacob Friske. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
ASAA/First National Bank Alaska
Class 3A Boys State Championships
Thursday
Nome 68, Houston 53 2OT
Grace Christian 50, Mt. Edgecumbe 33
Kenai Central 50, Delta 31
Valdez 47, Barrow 45
Friday
Fourth Place Game
9:30am (5) Kenai Central vs. (6) Valdez
Saturday
Third Place Game
9:00am (3) Houston vs. (4) Mt. Edgecumbe
Title Game
3:00pm (1) Grace Christian vs. (2) Nome