Jan. 17-19 will be a big weekend at CHS, as the 37th Annual Cordova Tipoff will combine with Homecoming in a unique pairing of school activities and excitement.
Teams from Palmer, Pt. Hope and Metlakatla will arrive in Cordova for three days of round-robin basketball action, and between the final games on Saturday evening, the Homecoming coronation will take place.
The unusual scheduling was forced by a change in the basketball schedule that has Conference opponent Effie Kokrine playing an unusual Tuesday-Wednesday mid-week set of game here against CHS on February 19-20, eliminating the possibility of the traditional Homecoming on the last weekend of regular-season home basketball.
This year’s Tipoff includes teams from the far reaches of Alaska, featuring Pt. Hope from far up north, and Metlakatla from far down south. Both are traditional powers.
Pt. Hope is famous for its sharpshooting, uptempo style of play, fine-tuned in a beautiful gym that features two courts and is a center of hoops action year-round. Pt. Hope played in the Tipoff only once before, back in 2011, when their girls came in first, and the boys finished second.
For Metlakatla, this is their first trip to Cordova, and local fans are absolutely thrilled with the chance to see squads from this famous traditional Southeast power on Cordova’s shiny new court.
Toss in the JV’s from big 4A Palmer, plus Cordova girls and boys teams that are off to a fast start, and there are the makings for one of the best Tipoff’s ever.
Historically, it is interesting to note that the Tipoff has never been lacking in stiff competition for CHS. In 36 years of the tournament, which was created by the Cordova Elks Lodge back in 1982, the Cordova girls have won 13 times, the boys 15. It is also noteworthy that visits by Southeast teams are rare. Wrangell, Petersburg, Haines, Klawock, and Juneau JV’s have all participated; while nearby Yakutat, with 8 trips, is the most popular opponent south of Cordova.
And guess where Cordova’s second-year boys’ coach, now leading CHS to an 8-0 start, hails from? Yakutat; and yes, he played in Cordova’s Tipoff as a standout for the Eagles.
Check out the complete schedule of games and activities, and don’t miss a great weekend of activities at CHS.
