Su-Valley Boys and Girls Basketball teams are off to a strong start this year. Both teams have been playing on the road. The first home games of the year are set to tip off this weekend at the “Rally at Denali” tournament, taking place at Su-Valley High School.
The girls team is 6-0 going into this weekend. Su-Valley Athletic Director and Girls Basketball coach, Jimmy Sickler spoke about this year’s team.
“Yea so, last year we ended the season, in my opinion, really successfully. We came within a couple points of a State Championship for the girls, and we’re bringing back every single one of our Varsity players from last year except for one, which was a big one, Kenna Grenier, who was a big part of our team last year. But we have a lot of experience and a lot of talent coming back on the girls side, specifically our Captain, India Roderick whose a senior. We also have Kayla Morgan coming back, Emma Kehoe, Bethany Kehoe, and then one more girl, because she’s going to get a lot of accolades, she won the best hitter award at State Volleyball this year, but Alana Barron is going to be a big scorer for us this year on the girls side.”
The boys team, coached by Mike Matthews, is also showing strong. They are sitting at 5-1 with only one loss to Ninilchek in early January. Sickler describes what he thinks is driving the Boys’ success.
“Our Boys team is pretty senior heavy and kids that I’ve watched grow up and play basketball here. So we have Bryson Jolley, he’s one of our team leaders, Tristan Shelby, Luther Stankowitz, Finn Benischek. We also have one of our soccer stars joining for the first time, but he’s a senior, which is Weston Slatter and he’s contributing too, so that’s fun to watch those guys.”
The “Rally at Denali” tournament evolved from a contest that was previously held in Anchorage, where it was called “Rally of the Regions”. Two teams from each Region of Division 2A schools are invited compete in the event. The games provide a glimpse of who might prevail at the State Tournament later in March. At stake this year: A third berth to State.
Currently, each Region is allowed to send its top two teams to State. However this year, additional schools have entered the 2A category, leading the Alaska Schools Activities Association (ASAA) to create a third place qualifier for one of the Regions. Sickler is hoping the third berth will be granted to Region 2, where Su-Valley competes.
The games will be broadcast on the NFHS Network at nfhs.com. A paid subscription is required for this service.
The public is also welcome to attend the tournament games in person. Su-Valley Girls will play at 6:00pm this Thursday and Friday, followed both evenings by Su-Valley Boys. “Rally at Denali” Championships will be held Saturday afternoon.
Currently, Su-Valley High School is in the “green” zone, meaning that confirmed Covid-19 cases there are low. Although masks are encouraged by the school district for spectators, they are not required. If Su-Valley were to enter the “yellow” zone, with a higher number of Covid cases, masks would then be required to be worn by the public at the games.
