After a close first half against Hoonah, the Northern Lights scored the first 20 points of the second half to take control of the game.
Shishmaref's Lexi Nayokpuk tries to pump fake Hoonah's Ava Hinchman during a game at the Alaska State 1A Girls Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at the Alaska Airlines Center. The members of the Shishmaref girls basketball team were admittedly feeling some nerves Wednesday in the opening round of the Alaska State 1A Girls Basketball Tournament.
At halftime of their opening-round game against Hoonah, the Northern Lights held a slim 24-22 lead. But Shishmaref shook off the nerves, scoring the first 20 points of the third quarter en route to a 62-37 win. The victory was an upset from a seeding perspective, as Hoonah entered as the No. 6 seed to the Northern Lights’ No. 11 seed. “We were super slow in that first half,” Shishmaref’s Kyra Weyanna said. “We were really nervous we’re in state.”Shishmaref's Loretta Sinnok drives to the basket against Hoonah defenders during a game at the Alaska State 1A Girls Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at the Alaska Airlines Center. The Shish barrage to start the second half included some excellent balance. Weyanna scored a couple of baskets and teammates Elizabeth Kokeok, Loretta Sinnok and Katesonja Fernandez each scored at least six points in the third quarter.Weyanna said she heard supportive shouts from the crowd, including from her dad, Donald Weyanna, who encouraged her to keep driving to the basket. “I was really happy I could hear my family in the crowd,” she said. “My dad has a really deep voice.” Shishmaref fans show their support during the Alaska State 1A Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at the Alaska Airlines Center. Weyanna, a sophomore, is in her first state tournament and her first year with the Northern Lights. She lived in Teller prior to this year but was happy to get the experience in Shishmaref, a village on the Chukchi Sea.The rest of the early games on Wednesday were fairly lopsided. Top seed Shaktoolik topped Akiak 64-14.Tri-Valley used a big first half to blow past Kake 70-16. Lydia Miner scored 22 points to lead four players in double figures for Tri-Valley. Sand Point only had four players score in its 60-30 win over Napaaqtugmiut, but all four reached double figures. Junior Mia Cromer led the way with 18 points.Akiak's Destiny Ramos tries to avoid a Shaktoolik defender during the opening round of the Alaska State 1A Girls Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at Alaska Airlines Center. No. 11 Shishmaref 62, No. 6 Hoonah 37No. 3 Selawik 54, No. 14 Cook Inlet 32Shishmaref vs. Selawik, 11 a.m. on Court 2Top seeds notch blowout wins to open Alaska boys 1A state basketball tournamentAlaska Senate unanimously passes supplemental spending bill, buoyed by war-driven oil prices
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