New scoreboards arrive just in time for playoffs

From left, Brett Bradford, Tom Nothstine, Brian Carrillo and Josh Pearson admire a new scoreboard before lifting it into place. (Photo by Dick Shellhorn/The Cordova Times)

Shiny new scoreboards, purchased by Copper River Management Services of the Native Village of Eyak, arrived just in time for the 2A Interior Conference Playoffs held in Cordova on March 7-9.

A four-man crew of Cordova School Maintenance Director Josh Pearson, Tom Nothstine and Brett Carrillo, provided by Wilson Construction, and volunteer Brett Bradford hoisted the royal-blue Nevco scoreboards into place just two days before the playoff began.

Tom Nothstine and Brett Bradford steady a new scoreboard, as Josh Pearson uses a chain hoist to lift it in place, while Brian Carrillo looks on. (Photo by Dick Shellhorn/The Cordova Times)

And they worked carefully. The pair of scoreboards, mounted on the walls above center court on each side of the gym, cost a total of $28,000, including shipping.

“We thought it would be a good deal for not only the schools, but the whole community,” said Jack Hopkins of NVE, who at one time played for the Wolverines in the cracker-box gym now named Bidarka Rec Center.

“We’re happy to help,” echoed NVE’s Bob “Moose” Henrich. “This is something for everybody.”

One special feature of the new scoreboards is electronic name plates for the teams competing, which can be changed and entered from the scoring controls prior to every game.

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The older scoreboards did not have this feature and required hanging hand-printed team names on the wire mesh screens that were mounted to protect the board. The older scoreboards also had a number of lights no longer functioning, and issues with displaying proper numbers as well as changing or correcting timing errors.

The new scoreboards will also be well suited for volleyball and wrestling matches.

Coupled with the new floor that was installed this fall, CHS Court is in excellent shape, and will be the center of exciting sports action for years to come.

Bright electronic name plates fill the top of the new scoreboard, as Tom Nothstine, left, and Brett Bradford, celebrate a successful installation. (Photo by Dick Shellhorn/The Cordova Times)
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Dick Shellhorn
Dick Shellhorn is a lifelong Cordovan. He has been writing sports stories for the Cordova Times for over 50 years. In his Cordova Chronicles features, he writes about the history and characters of this Alaska town. Alaska Press Club awarded Shellhorn first place for Best Humor column in 2016 and 2020, and third place in 2017 and 2019. He also received second place for Best Editorial Commentary in 2019. Shellhorn has written two books about Alaska adventures: Time and Tide and Balls and Stripes. Reach him at dshorn44@gmail.com.