Cordova’s nine-game basketball win streak ended in rugged competition at the Valdez Elks Tournament on Feb. 9-11. The Whalers from Barrow tagged CHS with a 58-32 loss in the opening round early on Feb. 9.
“We came out flat and exhausted from travel or lack of sleep,” said Cordova High School Coach Jake Borst. “It wasn’t our best showing from the field shooting 27% … But Jaykob Thorne had a great game with 19 points.”
The Wolverines bounced back to top Redington 56-34 the next day.
“It was a more energized, balanced team effort,” said Borst. “We had 17 assists on 24 made field goals.” Thorne, Wyatt Sorenson, and Xavier Russin led the Cordova scoring with 14, 10 and 12 points respectively.
On Feb. 11 the Wolverines were topped by Seward 44-33. The Seahawks gradually pulled away for the win. Cordova trailed 9-10 at the quarter, 18-22 at the half and 25-29 after the third quarter.
With 2 minutes and 23 seconds left to go in the final quarter CHS was within 2 points, down 33-35, but went scoreless for the remainder of the game.
“Turnovers and physicality were our downfall in the game,” said Borst. “The guys responded well in the second half, but we just weren’t able to get some shots to fall.”
Noah Pearson was top scorer for Cordova with 6 points.
Thorne was named to the All-Tournament team, and Cordova was selected for the Team Sportsmanship Award.
CHS now heads on the road again, this time to Ninilchik, for a three-day, four-team invitational tournament on Feb. 16-18. CHS will play Bristol Bay, Nenana, and Ninilchik — all 2A schools — with Nenana and Ninilchik foes in the upcoming conference playoffs at Glennallen on March 9-11.
