After qualifying for state for the first time since 2011, the Seward Seahawk Basketball Team wrapped up their season at the ASAA State Championship on March 22nd, 2024.
The Seahawks started in January with an eight-game winning streak that included wins against Valdez, North Pole, and Delta at the Dean Cummings Memorial Tournament.
Less than a month later, Seward took another undefeated victory at the home Seahawk Classic in early February, trouncing Ninilchik, North Pole, and Bethel.
These triumphs fueled the team with a new hope: that of defeating longtime rival Grace Christian High School. Seward would lose to Grace thrice before state, and would get closer to winning each time. That, coupled with the fact that Seward has not beaten the Anchorage private school in 20 years, further fanned the flames.
Unfortunately, even after leading by nine in the first quarter, Grace took a 51-30 win against the Seahawks and sent them to the back of the bracket. Team spirits were raised however, after defeating Houston in the consolation semifinal. Seward set an early lead in the first quarter, a gap which was quickly closed by the Hawks. But, by the final buzzer, Seward had retained a lead of 51-43, pushing them into the consolation final, which determined the 4th and 6th place teams. Despite putting up a good fight, Barrow prevailed, solidifying Seward’s 6th place finish.
Aside from State, both the Boy’s and Girl’s teams say goodbye to several seniors this year. From the Boys: Kupono Albino, Ben Ambrosiani, Nick Ambrosiani, Bergen Davis, and Jerick Senecal. From the Girls: Robin Cronin, Stella Dow, Hailey Ingalls, and Melanie Woodard. As always, SHS Today wishes them all the best in their future athletic endeavors.
Final Standings:
1st: Nome-Beltz Nanooks
2nd: Mt. Edgecumbe Braves
3rd: Valdez Buccaneers
4th: Barrow Whalers
5th: Grace Christian Grizzlies
6th: Seward Seahawks
7th: Houston Hawks*
8th: Hutchison Hawks*
*Note: No 7th/8th place game was played at the 2024 ASAA 3A Basketball State Championship. As such, they have been ranked in this article according to their tournament seed.
