Barrow knocks off defending champ Grace Christian in 3A girls state basketball semis
Mar. 20—Crossing paths with Grace Christian at the Alaska State 3A Basketball Tournament has become nearly a tradition for the Barrow girls team, as the two familiar foes have been among the top programs in recent years. While the Whalers' past two playoff meetings against the Grizzlies have been in the title tilt, this year's matchup came in the semifinals.
This time, Barrow got the better of the three-time defending state champions in a 50-39 victory Thursday at Alaska Airlines Center. "That was one of the best wins of my coaching career," head coach Nicole Smith said. "We've been battling with Grace for the past three years now, and it was such a good feeling to get a win.
" The second matchup of the season between the two powerhouses played out much differently from the first, in late January, when Barrow coasted to a 30-point victory. This time around, it was back-and-forth from the start until a key 9-0 run to open the fourth quarter increased the Whalers' lead from six points to 15. "That was incredible, I think our defensive effort there in the fourth quarter was awesome," Smith said.
"The girls were locked in all game long. They put their foot on the gas and didn't let go. " The Grizzlies didn't go down without a fight, and were able to whittle the deficit down to single digits for a stretch.
But the Whalers were able to secure the victory and move on to Saturday's championship game. "I'm filled with excitement and joy and just the connection with my teammates," senior Zadah Unutoa said. She received player of the game honors despite not reaching double figures in scoring with eight points.
Continue to the original source for the full article.