Seldovia Sea Otters – Tournament Champions!
by Jenny Chissus
After three days of competition – the Seldovia Sea Otters boys basketball team pulled off an amazing victory against their great opponent Nikolaevsk, with a final score of 51 Seldovia, 47 Nikolaevsk.
I had the chance to catch up with Coach Mark Janes around 12:18am on Saturday morning – and no, the players hadn’t hit the hay quite yet! Friday night, a BIG win, everyone was pretty amped! Mark took a minute to talk with me from the Kenai Peninsula College campus where our Otters are being hosted during the regional tournament. The teams are loving being able to stay on the campus, getting a little taste of college life, touring the campus, hanging out a bit with college students and enjoying the comforts of apartment living. Boys are all on one floor “down below” and the girls are on an upper floor, but they do tend to all get together in the lounge areas to play video games, eat and visit on their off time. Thanks KPC for offering such a great place to stay at a special rate for our teams!
Looking back at the most recent home games, the coach mentioned that the guys really didn’t play to their full potential. In preparation for this tournament they realized that they had to “Play hard from A to Z, they had to do more than show up! Many of our players have been shooting hoops and playing ball in the gym since they were 4. Recently, they have been focusing on their shooting form, and as you can see from this weekend, it has improved!”
It was obvious to all those watching these exciting games, the guys really muscled through, and never gave up, just kept focused on the job at hand and went full on! One of the things that Mark mentioned they really managed well in these games was their ability to focus on limiting some of their major opponent’s big shooters. One student had 35 points against the Otters in their last game, but this time, this individual only scored 9 points. That makes a big difference!
The one thing Mark really wanted to emphasize was that this win was truly a team win. Sure, we have some great shooters, and many times, they are all pretty even in their scoring during the games. However, you can’t underestimate the power of the full team, those that keep the defense strong by claiming rebounds, successfully getting turnovers, and blocking baskets! These guys work well as a team and they all make it possible for each to do their jobs, with Champion style results! Mark is very proud of the team and their ability to work together for this success!
Being off the road system, it is often hard to get the support in the stands – just due to logistics. Well, the team was impressed with the amount of fans at the games this weekend. “We matched Nikolaevsk in the crowd – we have a dedicated following.” Even a few of the Resident Assistants from the college came to cheer on our team! Mark mentioned that KPC doesn’t have an athletics program, but it was like they had a sports team for the weekend! The students from KPC even ordered pizzas for our players and have enjoyed hanging out with our students these past few days.
Mark and the entire team wanted to acknowledge Nikolaevsk. “They are a quality team and a worthy opponent, and although the Otters feel a little bad about beating them, they all had a great spirit about the game, and they came over and graciously shook hands and celebrated together. Nikolaevsk has made us a stronger team by being such great opponents and friends.”
The Otters will all arrive home on the Tusty tomorrow at 1:15pm, but there is no rest for the weary as they are preparing to go to State Competitions next week! During Spring Break, the team will have early morning practices to prepare their “muscle memory” for early games at the state level. Though we don’t have the line up of the competition yet – Mark is certain that they are up to the task, and there will be some exciting games ahead! The Otters plan to drive up to Anchorage on Friday, and the ASAA March Madness Alaska 2014 State Championships will be held in the Sullivan Arena from the 15th to the 22nd. You can CLICK HERE for ASAA’s information regarding the State Championships, for pricing and schedules as they become available. As of today, Saturday, the brackets aren’t filled in as the regional tournaments are still in play!
Thanks to all the parents, volunteers, fundraising efforts and the many generous partners who make these trips possible for our students! We are so thankful for your support! See you at State!
Category: Bulletin Board, Sports
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