The CHS Wolverines lost all three games at the Valdez Valentine’s Tournament, falling to 4A Kenai 71-45, 3A Bethel 59-34, and 3A Galena 61-45.
While playing “up” against bigger schools may pay dividends come Conference playoffs, it has proved challenging for the 2A Wolverine squad.
Led by 6-5 senior Luke Beiser’s 21 points, Kenai jumped out to a 35-20 halftime advantage in Cordova’s February 8 matchup against the Cardinals. Kenai put the game out of reach by outscoring CHS 21-8 in the third quarter. Christian Adams led CHS with 13 points.
The third quarter also haunted Cordova in the Friday, Feb. 9 matchup against Bethel. The Warriors had CHS doubled at halftime, leading 36-18; and held Cordova to 5 points in the third stanza, while scoring 16.
All eight Warriors scored in the game, with 6-0 senior John Fredericks tops with 16. Adams again led CHS, this time with 11.
Cordova stayed close to Galena through three periods, trailing 39-28 to start the final eight minutes. The Hawks outdid CHS 22-17 in a high-scoring finish.
Koby Wightman was top gun for Galena with 14; Adams led CHS for the third game in a row, this time with 11. The lanky 6-3 Wolverine sophomore was later named to the all-tournament team.
Valdez topped Kenai in the boys Championship game.
CHS will resume 2A Interior Conference action here Feb. 16-17 against Tok. Cordova’s overall record is now 10-6, with a 5-1 mark in conference play.
The Cordova JV boys were also in a tournament on Feb. 8-10, traveling to Redington High School in the MatSu Valley. They fell to Redington JV 41-33 in their first game of the Rally in the Valley on February 8, and lost to Homer JV on February 9 by a 44-32 final.
On the morning of Feb. 10, they tallied a big win, topping Valdez JV 45-38. Aaron Phillips led Cordova with 23 points.
Individual scoring, Valdez Tournament:
Game 1: Cordova: Rodriques 2, Pena 4, Graves 6, Gatton 2, Bailey 3, Sjostedt 10, Adams 13, Bradford 5. Kenai: Efta 7, Baker 4, Tuttle 5, Beiser 21, Goodman 6, Trujillo 12, Strende 14. Game 2: Gatton 6, Sjostedt 5, Adams 11, Bradford 7, Estes 5. Bethel: Daniel 4, Hoffman 5, Mortensen 2, Crow 6, Garrison 10, Constantine 12, Poe 4, Fredericks 16. Game 3: Pena 3, Graves 2, Gatton 5, Bailey 8, Sjostedt 7, Adams 11, Bradford 4, Estes 5. Galena: Bergman 4, Waska 8, Moore 3, Kopp 13, Vaughn 6, Wightman 14, Riddle 13.
