The Alaska Airlines Center, where Alaska’s state high school basketball tournaments are held. (Creative Commons photo by the University of Alaska Anchorage)
Ketchikan High School’s Lady Kings took third place at the 4A state basketball tournament over the weekend. Ketchikan’s girls beat the third-seeded West Anchorage Lady Eagles 62-48 to secure the third spot.
The Lady Kings entered the state tournament as the fifth seeds after winning the Region V championship at the Southeast regional tournament in Ketchikan. Their run at a state title ended after losing to No. 1 seed and eventual tournament victors Anchorage Christian in the semifinal round.
On the boys’ side, Southeast Alaska’s regional champions exited in the first round of the state tournament. The eighth-seeded Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears fell to the No. 1 seeds. The Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School Thunderbirds bested the Bears 56-49 in a quarterfinal match. The Bears beat the Kayhi Kings for the Region V championship to secure the state tournament berth.
The Lady Kings’ third-place finish comes after the Metlakatla Chiefs boys’ basketball team placed second in the 2A state tournament for smaller schools. The girls’ team, the Miss Chiefs, placed fifth at state.
