West’s Mat Chuol takes flight. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
The West boys basketball team’s offense was grounded for much of Thursday’s first quarter, but once ‘Air Chuol’ took flight the fourth-ranked Eagles soared to victory.
Senior sky-walker Mat Chuol took to the skies for two thunderous dunks early in the first half to highlight a 72-39 victory over Eagle River on Day 2 of the Cook Inlet Conference Tournament at West High School.
Chuol poured in 23 points and threw down a two-handed flush in the first quarter and a one-handed jam in the second quarter. He also tried to catch a body but missed the dunk; still, he got the rebound and scored on the putback.
It was that kind of night for Chuol, a 6-foot-6 defensive specialist who can fill it up when it’s his time to shine on a team loaded with offensive talent.
Ten West players reached the scoring column as the Eagles advanced to Friday’s semifinal against third-ranked Service.
The team’s leading scorer, Buob Marial, got his team going on the defensive end after his chase-down blocked shot wiped away a layup attempt.
Moments later, West’s Azariah Atonio got the ball on the break and found Chuol, who hammered home a two-handed slam.
West’s Azariah Atonio battles inside while Eagle River’s Antene’a Tauaefa defends. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
Marial’s 3-pointer gave West an 11-4 lead early in the second quarter. Then Chuol went airborne again, making a steal and getting out on the break for a one-handed dunk to make it 16-7.
Eagle River’s Jordan Griffin buried a 3 to get the Wolves within 20-14, but that was as close as they’d get. West put its foot down in the third quarter to make it 46-25 heading into the fourth.
Eagle River sophomore Antene’a Tauaefa led his team with 16 points.
EAGLE RIVER (39) – Legenza 8, Tauaefa 16, Skinner 5, Griffin 3, Wallace 4, Dunk 0, Aguilar 3, Atkinson 0, Bird 0, Tovar 0, Collins 0, Hiett 0, Myers 0.
WEST (72) – Alexander 2, Mikes 7, Cook 5, Tharjiath 5, Muehlenkamp 2, Hardman 9, Marial 8, Chuol 23, Shein 5, Atonio 5, Muon 6.
Eagle River 4 10 11 14 – 39
West 8 14 24 26 – 72
Dimond boys 62, Bartlett 44
Marek Hajdukovich and Amelio Ambrosio keyed a second-half surge that helped the Lynx pull away for a 62-44 win.
The dynamic duo combined for 17 points during a decisive 19-5 run over the third and fourth quarters when Dimond turned a 37-35 nailbiter into a 56-40 runaway.
Hajdukovich had 10 of his 17 points in that pivotal stretch, including a finger roll, turnaround jumper and 3-pointer.
In the second quarter, the 6-foot-3 junior guard gave Dimond its first lead at 17-16 after his offensive rebound putback.
Moments later, however, he crashed hard on a drive and rolled his ankle. He limped off the court before returning and shortly after hit a jumper in the lane to put the Lynx in front 26-24.
In the second half, Hajdukovich put a hurtin’ on the Golden Bears.
CIC Tournament
At West High School
Boys
Friday
Semifinals
4:30pm West (17-8) vs. Service (19-7)
7:30pm Dimond (15-10) vs. East (23-1)
Saturday
4:30pm Third Place Game
7:30pm Title Game
Ambrosio, a sophomore, had seven of his game-high 20 points in that key run that propelled Dimond into the CIC semifinals against top-ranked East.
Ambrosio scored on a reverse layup on a feed from Hajdukovich and then added a two-handed dunk to extend the lead to 14.
Bartlett’s Jai Jordan pumped in 17 points. He gave the Bears a 30-26 lead in the second quarter and his 3 pulled them within 46-40 late in the third quarter.
BARTLETT (44) – S.Drussell 0, Nevitte 5, Phiachantharath 0, Jordan 17, Burns 1, A.Drussell 0, Bayath 4, Burrell 0, Kulang 11, Richarson 0, James 2, Dewey 1, Press 3.
DIMOND (62) – Ambrosio 20, Tavaras 3, Jav.Walls 6, Castro 3, Stovall 4, Hajdukovich 17, Wilson 4, Sosa-Carpenter 0, Jolin 2, Young 6, Jae.Walls 0.
Bartlett 16 14 10 4 – 44
Dimond 13 15 20 14 – 62
Service’s Patri Ferran lets one fly. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
Service girls 45, South 35
The Cougars used a 15-6 run in the third quarter to power their 45-35 win over the Wolverines in a Southside battle. Fab freshmen Aryanna Watson and Leia Silva combined for 26 points, including one-third of the production in the third frame.
After falling behind early, Service took its first lead at 16-15 on Silva’s 3-pointer. Rhianna Kochutin’s triple extended the lead to 28-18. Kochutin’s second 3 of the night made it 38-26.
Watson led Service with 15 points, including a 3 that pushed her team’s advantage to 43-30 with 2:15 to play. Offensive rebounding played a huge role for the Cougars and led to countless second- and third-chance opportunities.
South’s Makaylen King matched Watson with game-high scoring honors with 15 points. Her jumper gave the Wolverines a 15-7 lead early in the second quarter.
SOUTH (35) – White 0, Heartwell 4, S.Morris 11, Gebauer 0, M. Morris 5, Rzeszut 0, King 15, Dahlstrom 0, Birch 0, Costa da Silva 0.
SERVICE (45) – Wells 0, Ferran 6, Kochutin 3, Lealaisalanoa 6, Watson 15, Vanilau 4, Silva 9, Leniu 2.
South 12 5 6 12 – 35
Service 7 16 15 7 – 45
South’s Makaylen King goes up for two. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
West girls 44, Chugiak 34
The Eagles made it rain early, splashing four 3s to produce half of the team’s first 24 points as they rolled to a 44-34 victory.
Ariel Misa hit two triples and finished with 10 points. Za’Riah Queen, Aniah Harris and Pure Timberlake each hit one trey.
Timberlake was the only player in the game to score in each of the four quarters on her way to netting 10 points.
West built a 26-8 lead at the break.
Chugiak’s Natalie Horn paced her team with two 3s and 14 points while Petra Knox made 6-of-8 free throws as the Mustangs finished 12-of-15 from the line.
CHUGIAK (34) – Knox 6, Poteet 0, Koncaha 0, Desmond 3, Williams 8, Horn 14, Garrett 1, Mullin 2.
WEST (44) – Sereyko 0, Wyche 3, Witwer 0, Bithow 2, Queen 4, Galang 0, Harris 7, Sallah 0, Lealaisalanoa 2, Misa 10, Timberlake 10, Taualii 6.
Chugiak 4 4 6 20 – 34
West 12 14 9 9 – 44
CIC Tournament
At West High School
Girls
Friday
Semifinals
3:00pm Service (16-9) vs. Bartlett (15-9)
6:00pm West (10-13) vs. Dimond (21-5)
Saturday
3:00pm Third Place Game
6:00pm Title Game