Cordova’s basketball squads have been on the road so long local fans may have forgotten the names of their players.
Faced with the high costs of air travel after ferry service was cancelled, Cordova’s scheduled weekend series against Glennallen and Nenana were consolidated into an eight-day odyssey that began on Feb. 20 and ended on Feb. 27. The journey included make-up games against Tok and Effie Kokrine, also due to ferry cancellations.
So, incredibly, in that stretch, CHS played every team in the 2A Interior Conference except SuValley. It was like a warmup for the three-day conference playoff here on March 7-9.
After flying to Anchorage, the squads were on the road — a lot. Their itinerary would make summertime tour operators green with envy.
Days 1 & 2: Fly to Anchorage, drive to Tok for one night of games. Miles: air 160, road 318. Final scores: Girls: Cordova 54, Tok 29; Boys: Cordova 60, Tok 31.
Days 3 & 4: Drive Tok to Glennallen, for two days of games. Miles: 138. Final Scores: Girls: Cordova 41, Glennallen 28, and Cordova 34, Glennallen 39 (OT). Boys: Cordova 42, Glennallen 50, and Cordova 38, Glennallen 69.
Day 5: Drive, Glennallen to Fairbanks for one day of games: Miles: 248.
Final scores: Girls: Cordova 45, Effie Kokrine 25. Boys: Cordova 61, Effie Kokrine 41.
Days 6 & 7: Drive, Fairbanks to Nenana, for two nights of games: Miles: 56. Final Scores: Girls: Cordova 30, Nenana 60, and Cordova 23, Nenana 44; Boys: Cordova 86, Nenana 25, and Cordova 96, Nenana 30.
Day 8: Drive, Nenana to Anchorage, and fly home: Miles: 304 on the road, 160 in the air.
Total miles travelled: 1,384.
But that’s only half of it. Ferry cancellations forced Cordova to fly to and from Anchorage the prior weekend, to then drive for a pair of make-up games at Tok, and then three rounds of games in the Valdez Valentine’s tournament. Add in six more days on the road, totaling 867 miles (Anchorage to Tok 318, Tok to Valdez 250, Valdez to Anchorage 299), and 320 more air miles (round trip). Total miles: 1,187.
The wayward Wolverines traveled 2,571 miles and played 20 games in 13 days. The distance across the United States from sea to shining sea is 2,800 miles.
Thank goodness the Cordova teams have this weekend off prior to beginning Conference playoffs here on Thursday, March 9.
Kudos to the athletes and their coaches for their efforts, dedication, and endurance.
Talk about love of the game.
And, by the way, notice the impact of ferry service, or lack thereof, on Cordova school activities.
