The No. 3-ranked Chugiak High Mustangs boys basketball team turned a slim first-quarter lead into a 52-45 home win over the defending state champion Kodiak Bears Friday.
The victory for the playoff-bound Mustangs came on a night set aside to honor the seven seniors on the squad, and concluded the regular season for Chugiak. The win also extended the Mustangs' home unbeaten streak to 10 games.
Leading 11-8 after the first period, the Mustangs surged ahead on a 10-2 scoring run to start the second period, highlighted by a flurry of slam dunks and blocked shots.
Chris Devine sparked the Mustang charge by pulling in a shot attempt by Kodiak's Phil Nisbett. He then fired off a half-court pass to Troy Gray who delivered a rim-rattling slam-dunk. Two possessions later, Devine and Gray connected again, electrifying the crowd.
Six-foot, nine-inch center Nate Worrell was the next Mustang to score as the senior took a pass from Dan Erickson at the low post and slammed the ball over Kodiak's James Bailie.
Erickson recorded the Mustangs' third block of the period and connected with Devine, who swung from the rim after a powerful, two-handed dunk.
The Mustangs added three more blocked shots for a total of six in the period. At the half they led 24-17.
Kodiak started quickly as Bailie hit two three-pointers early in the third, closing to within five points. But the Mustangs had an answer for every Bears comeback attempt, keeping them at arm's length for the remainder of the game.
"The run in the second period really fired us up," Chugiak head coach Kevin Fullmer said. "We were making plays on both ends of the floor, controlling the flow of the game. Troy, Nate and Chris really got the fans involved with their dunks."
Fullmer then turned his attention to the seniors on his team.
"It is a great way for them to go out," he said. "To see them win their last game at home really means a lot. And to have Dan (Erickson) lead the team in scoring is wonderful."
Erickson, a three-year member of the varsity squad, connected on a trio of three-point shots on his way to a game-high 14 points. Fellow senior Troy Gray added 11.
Before the game, the Chugiak coaching staff, team and the Chugiak High boys basketball booster club honored the seven seniors for their contributions to the team. For seniors Dan Clarke, Don Daley, Erickson, Gray, Lafewt Knox, Jason Veldhuis and Worrell, Friday's game was the last time they would enter the darkened gym under the traditional roving spotlight for pre-game warm-ups.
"Senior Nights are tough for me," Fullmer said. "It's always hard, knowing that this is the last time I will coach a group of kids. You get close during a season, and most of the team has been in the program for several years. I am proud to see them go out as winners."
The Mustangs, who finished second in the conference, received a bye in the first round of the Region IV Championship Tournament, which begins today. They will face the winner of the Dimond-East game in the semifinals at 4:45 p.m. at West High.
CHUGIAK 52, KODIAK 45
KODIAK (45) - Nisbett 4 0-0 8, Ortez 2 0-0 4, Agmata 4 0-0 8, Bailie 4 0-1 10, Kinsley 2 1-2 5, Pabillore 2 1-4 6, Mortenson 2 0-1 4. Totals 20 2-8 45.
CHUGIAK (52) - Devine 4 0-2 8, Veldhuis 2 0-0 5, Gray 4 3-5 11, John 1 0-0 2, Knox 1 0-0 2, Daley 2 0-0 5, Clarke 0 0-0 0, Erickson 5 1-3 14, Loges 0 0-0 0, Worrell 2 1-4 5. Totals 21 5-14 52.
Total fouls - Kodiak 17, Chugiak 17. Fouled out - None. Three-point goals - Erickson 3, Bailie 2, Pabillore, Daley, Veldhuis.
Kodiak 8 9 13 15 - 45
Chugiak 11 15 13 13 - 52
