The Cordova High School (CHS) boys – seeded No. 1 in the Interior Conference 2A Playoffs here on March 6-8 – took home first place in the playoffs and are headed to Anchorage for the State Championship.
The boys proved they well deserved their ranking – defeating Glennallen 55-20 in the opening round on March 6, and defeating Effie Kokrine 54-40 in the game for first place on March 7. The unusual double elimination bracket for five teams meant the Wolverines had to win only two games to take home the title.
In the game against Glennallen, the Wolverines jumped out to an 18-4 lead after the first quarter and led 30-8 at halftime. Everyone played as CHS proved way too much for the Panthers, who are in rebuilding mode.
John Itliong led Cordova with 17 points, Chiko Jacob and Noah Pearson each had 15, Thomas Nothstine scored 3, Blake Bailey and Roman Quenado added 2 each, and Karl Griffith scored 1.
Effie Kokrine proved to be a more stubborn opponent. After scoring only 4 points in the first quarter, the squad from Fairbanks battled back to trail 22-18 at halftime.
Effie Kokrine played a slowdown possession game to try to keep up with the Wolverines but Cordova pulled away to win by 14.
Pearson finished with 20 points, including four three-pointers. (The crowd went crazy when the first two baskets of the game were on long bombs from far beyond the arc). Pearson also led Cordova in rebounding.
Jacob added 15 points, Itliong had 8, Nothstine scored 7, and Bailey had 4.
In the post-game awards ceremonies on March 8, Cordova received the Interior Conference 2A First Place trophy, as well as the Team Sportsmanship Award.
Pearson, Jacob and Nothstine were named to the All-Conference team. Itliong was honored as the conference Player of the Year.
The State Championship Tournament will be from March 12-15 at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
