Local basketball fans had to wait an extra week for the first home games of the season, as last weekend’s series against Grace Christian was cancelled because the ferry was unable to run due to bad weather.
The games have been rescheduled for Friday, Oct. 26, and Saturday, Oct. 27.
Cordova’s junior high teams have already traveled for two sets of games this year, at Glennallen and Valdez.
New girls coach Heather Richardson, who played high school basketball back in Pontiac, Illinois, has 13 girls on her squad, including four sixth-graders.
“The Glennallen trip was the first games for many of the girls,” Richardson said. “By the second day, they had found their footing, and hustled hard.”
Richardson was especially happy with their play in Valdez.
“It was some very tough competition, from both Valdez and Delta,” she said. “The highlight was our ‘B’ team taking Valdez into overtime before losing a close one.”
Richardson also commented about the travel involved in Alaska hoops, which for Cordova usually starts with a ferry ride followed by taking vans or a bus to the game sites.
“We sure didn’t do that back in Illinois, and these kids are really amazing in how well they handle it all,” she said.
Boys high school varsity coach Bert Adams and his assistant Jake Borst are also coaching the junior high boys this year.
“We have 23 boys out, with nine eighth graders, nine seventh graders, and five sixth graders,” Adams said. “So far, our season highlight was the ‘A’ team playing Valdez in the championship game of the Glennallen tournament, even though we lost.”
Arthur Adams and J.T. Thorne made the All-Tournament team, and Xavier Russin was selected for the Sportsmanship team.
The long-awaited first opening jump ball on the new CHS floor will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday to start the boys “B” game versus Grace. Girls “B” will follow at 6:30 p.m., with boys “A” at 7:30 p.m., and girls “A” at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, it will be girls “B” at 3 p.m., followed by boys “B” at 4 p.m., girls “A” at 5 p.m., and boys “A” at 6 p.m.
