Connect with us

Alaska

Alaska needs an efficient commuter rail system — why wait to build it?  • Alaska Beacon

Published

on

Alaska needs an efficient commuter rail system — why wait to build it?  • Alaska Beacon


I recently spoke with a European friend who told me she wants to visit Alaska, travel, and hike around the state. She was surprised when I told her that public transit, specifically the rail system, is severely limited and much more expensive than air travel. Alaskans and visitors deserve efficient and affordable ways to move around the state. As we approach this fall’s elections, it’s important to think about the leadership we want and which candidates will work to enhance our economy and quality of life. Establishing a commuter rail system is a crucial part of that vision. Here’s why.

This fall, a round trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks on the Alaska Railroad’s Aurora Winter Train will cost you $452, which is $250 more than a ticket on Alaska Airlines. And if you’re visiting the state and want to take a trip to Denali without a driver’s license, a round trip by train from Golden Heart City will set you back $176. While only about 200 passengers per day desired an idyllic ride through the wilderness in the first quarter of 2024, most of us just need a solid public transit that won’t break the bank.

Streamlining commutes and easing travel

Many, including the previous gubernatorial administration, have recognized the commuter rail system as a doable solution to overcrowded roads. Bill Walker in 2018 established the Commuter Rail Advisory Task Force, which was rescinded by Mike Dunleavy in 2019. The goal of Walker’s initiative was to look into establishing a commuter rail line between Wasilla and Anchorage. The Mat-Su Borough is the state’s fastest-growing area, with a population of approximately 113,000. Many residents from the valley commute to Anchorage for work daily. According to the state’s Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, the Glenn Highway between Anchorage and Mat-Su Valley witnesses 33,000 vehicles every day. With no viable alternative route, an increasing number of Alaskans in the Mat-Su Valley daily waste one and a half hours (without traffic) commuting to and from work. 

A commuter rail system is a solution that will save Alaskans time and stress. According to an early report shared by Alaska Commuter Rail Coalition, a monthly train ticket would cost commuters 74% less than paying for gas and parking.

Advertisement

Pragmatic economic solution funded with federal dollars

Walker’s administration found that the pilot program for the Wasilla-Anchorage line would cost $15.2 million to cover annual operating expenses and initial capital. Considering inflation, that figure would now be approximately $20.2 million, or 0.16% of the state budget for the current fiscal year. The Alaska Railroad would operate the program on the existing tracks. The bulk of the infrastructure is ready to serve hardworking Alaskans and those who want to visit our state. 

The good news is that the state won’t need to use its own funds to finance the public transit we deserve. Congress in 2021 passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes funding for passenger rail improvement. The Alaska Railroad has already received an $8.2 million grant to replace a bridge on the North Corridor mainline in Willow. Money for the project comes from the law’s Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program, which, despite its emphasis on passenger rail, mostly benefits Alaska’s freight service. Our congressional delegation supported the historic investment, recognizing the need for updated public infrastructure. Commuter rail will not cost the state an arm and a leg. The Alaska Railroad must take greater advantage of federal dollars and offer transit options we can all appreciate. In 2002, the state-owned corporation issued a 234-page report on commuter rail benefits. It’s time to turn this theory into action.

A smart and safe solution to traffic

On average, Americans spend 54 hours a year in rush hour traffic. To me, riding a train to work sounds like a much more pleasant experience than being stuck on the road. Commuter rail is one of the safest modes of transportation and promotes economic development by expanding tax revenue and improving access to urban centers. 

An efficient commuter rail system would also increase the number of tourists. My friend from Europe, who doesn’t have a driver’s license, could finally visit me and experience the beauties of our state. International tourists currently represent only 5% of all visitors. If we want people from around the world to come and spend money, we have to invest in transit infrastructure. 

We deserve infrastructure supporting the prosperous, diversified economy we aspire to build. This November, let’s elect leaders who prioritize our well-being and ensure we stop wasting time and money on our highways. 

Advertisement

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Advertisement



Source link

Alaska

Majority lawmakers say Alaska schools need more money from state

Published

on

Majority lawmakers say Alaska schools need more money from state


Rep. Rebecca Himschoot, of Sitka, talks with Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, on the House floor on January 22, 2025. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Lawmakers succeeded last year in their effort to permanently boost the state’s per-student funding formula for K-12 public schools, twice overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s vetoes to cement an increase that educators had long asked for.

But after years of flat funding from the state and declining enrollment, districts across Alaska this year say they are still in dire straits. The Anchorage School District, which last year spent down its budget reserve amid state funding uncertainty, is facing a $90 million deficit. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District has a $23 million deficit. The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is estimating a deficit of $8.5 million. Juneau schools face a deficit of more than $5 million.

Senate Education Committee Chair Löki Tobin called the funding increase approved last year “woefully insufficient.”

The bipartisan majority coalition in the Alaska House is still prioritizing school funding, said House Education Committee Co-Chair Rep. Rebecca Himschoot, a Sitka independent, in an interview on Tuesday. But the mechanism by which that funding stability will be achieved remains unclear, she said.

Advertisement

“Education remains one of our No. 1 priorities, so we’re not backing away from it in the House Majority coalition, in any way at all,” said Himschoot. “Now the political reality of what’s possible is a different story. So whatever is possible — we’re committed to doing — and the limitation is what is actually possible.”

That political reality is shaped by limited revenue and “advocacy fatigue” that has left Alaskans tired of again asking for a funding boost after making it a flagship issue during the preceding two legislative sessions.

Last year’s boost to the state’s education formula was hailed by districts as a success, though it amounted to less than half the funding amount that public educators requested in 2024. Last year’s legislation yielded no effective revenue increase to most schools, because it came on the heels of an outside-the-formula spending boost of equal size in the preceding fiscal year.

In effect, the state’s K-12 education budget dropped between last year and the current year, by roughly $20 million, following a student enrollment drop of nearly 1,000 students.

Alaska has 125,317 public school students this year, according to data collected in the fall by the state. That’s down from 126,284 in 2024; 127,931 in 2023; and 128,088 in 2022.

Advertisement

Despite lawmakers’ hard-fought battles over education funding in recent years, the state’s effective spending on K-12 schools has remained virtually unchanged, going from $1.29 billion in the 2023 fiscal year to $1.33 billion in the current fiscal year, a roughly 3% increase, far below the inflation rate in the same period.

The governor’s budget draft introduced in December accounts for no new education funding this year, even as Dunleavy asked for spending increases for most other executive branch departments, to account for salary increases and other inflation-driven costs.

“Everything that our state government does requires increases every year, and yet we’re not providing those increases to education,” said Himschoot.

Funding woes have translated to different challenges across the state. In urban areas, including Anchorage, stagnant state funding has led districts to shutter enrichment programs and sports and grow class sizes. In rural areas, districts are struggling to keep buildings operational and qualified teachers in classrooms.

Ideas for shoring up education funding this year abound, said Himschoot and Tobin. They include pegging the state’s funding formula, known as the Base Student Allocation, to an inflation metric; providing dedicated funding streams for high-value budget items like reading coaches and vocational instructors; and upping state spending on the maintenance and repair of school buildings.

Advertisement

But three weeks into the legislative session, it is not immediately clear which of those ideas — if any — could garner enough support from the House and Senate to become law and fit into a tight budget process.

“We’ve got to get 11 votes in the Senate, 21 votes in the House, and hopefully get it past the governor. If that’s not the case, then I’m going to be working to get 40 (votes),” said Tobin, alluding to the threshold needed to override the governor.

Senate leaders said Tuesday that they are focused on addressing a backlog that has left school buildings with deferred maintenance and repair projects worth more than $2 billion.

The Legislature has in recent years funded only a fraction of maintenance projects identified as priorities by schools. The identified priorities are themselves an undercount of needed projects, lawmakers say, because some districts have stopped applying to the state for funding.

Dunleavy has during his tenure repeatedly slashed education funding to the tune of tens of millions of dollars annually for both school operations and maintenance. He has not commented publicly this year on whether he would allow an education funding increase to become law or again use his veto pen.

Advertisement

“The Senate majority is continuing to look for pathways to help support our struggling public school infrastructure, and also our public school services, and we are going to use every opportunity and everything available to us to invest in the best and most important resource our state has, which is our children,” said Tobin, an Anchorage Democrat.

Himschoot said she doesn’t think it’s realistic “at all” to again increase the Base Student Allocation by $700, which is what lawmakers did last year — bringing it from $5,960 to $6,660. But a smaller increase may be possible, she said.

“Will there be some kind of BSA inflationary adjustment? I think that’s on the table. Will there be funding to other programs that bring relief to districts? I think that’s on the table. In the absence of a solid fiscal plan, it’s really hard to talk about what’s possible,” Himschoot said.

Dunleavy last year vetoed a bill approved by lawmakers that would have raised between $25 million and $65 million by applying the state’s corporate income tax to Outside companies providing online services to Alaskans. That bill would have directed the new revenue to reading assistance and vocational programs in Alaska schools. After lawmakers failed to override Dunleavy’s veto last month, House majority members reintroduced the revenue bill. It is scheduled for a hearing later this week.

The House Education Committee is currently considering a bill from Rep. Andi Story, a Juneau Democrat who co-chairs the committee, which would change the way the state allocates money to districts. The bill would allow the districts to average out their attendance numbers over a three-year period, rather than using a single-year figure, among other changes. That would provide districts with more funding stability even as their enrollment numbers fluctuate.

Advertisement

The change is based on recommendations that appeared in a 2015 report commissioned by lawmakers.

According to Dunleavy administration education officials, the change could increase state spending on schools more than $70 million in the coming fiscal year. Of that, roughly $23 million would go to the Anchorage School District; nearly $10 million would go to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District; and more than $8 million would go to the Kenai Peninsula borough School District.

But it’s not immediately clear whether that bill will get the support needed to advance.

“I don’t see $70 million low-hanging fruit anywhere in the state right now,” said Himschoot.

“To me, it’s reasonable,” she said on the prospect of spending that amount from state savings. “To some of my colleagues, it’s not reasonable at all.”

Advertisement

Daily News reporter Mari Kanagy contributed from Juneau.





Source link

Continue Reading

Alaska

A Look at Alaskan Dream's Former Fleet – Cruise Industry News

Published

on

A Look at Alaskan Dream's Former Fleet – Cruise Industry News


With Alaskan Dream suddenly ceasing operations earlier this month, Cruise Industry News looks at the company’s former fleet. The U.S.-flagged coastal vessels previously spent summers cruising for the company in Alaska. Plans for the vessels, which are currently laid up at the port of Sitka, are unclear. Alaskan Dream Year…



Source link

Continue Reading

Alaska

The Rewind: UAA hockey beats UAF in OT, Alaskan pro athletes reach major milestones

Published

on

The Rewind: UAA hockey beats UAF in OT, Alaskan pro athletes reach major milestones


The UAA hockey team earned a 3-2 overtime win over UAF in the Governor’s Cup on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. (Stephanie Burgoon / UAA Athletics)

Welcome back to The Rewind, a weekly digest that puts a spotlight on the biggest stories and best performances from Alaska’s world of sports.

Last week featured several notable individual and team performances across the Alaska sports landscape at the high school and professional levels, as well as new developments on the college front. The high school basketball regular season saw a shocking upset and exciting tournament action. On the college scene, the University of Alaska Anchorage basketball teams were recognized for some impressive individual and collective performances. Outside the state, several Alaskans had impressive performances and career achievements worth recognizing and celebrating in their respective arenas.

Headlines and highlights

The premier in-season tournament for girls basketball in the state took place in town this past week with the annual Lady Lynx tournament, hosted by Dimond. After three days of exciting action that was capped off by a 70-66 overtime win over Bartlett on Saturday night, this year’s champion was Mountain City Christian Academy.

“Us MCCA coaches demand a lot out of our ladies,” head coach Lonnie Ridgeway said. “It’s not easy playing as hard as they do every possession knowing they aren’t going to get a sub. But that is the demand and expectation in our program and they rose to that challenge. The three games of the tournament gave us new situations and circumstances that we cherish as a team.”

Advertisement

After a couple of double-digit blowouts of South Anchorage and host Dimond, the Lions had their hands full with the Golden Bears and reigning Cook Inlet Conference Player of the Year sophomore Kennedi Gaines, who dropped 28 points in the title game. MCCA had star power of its own with senior Keelie Kronberger who scored a game-high 38 points.

“Prior to the championship game, we told our girls it was going to be a battle until the very end, and it was. I was proud of how our girls kept their composure and responded to adversity down the stretch,” Ridgeway said. “Coach Darian (Lawson) and his coaching staff have an incredible program and I know we both hope to see each other again.”

The second annual Anchorage-Fairbanks challenge between a pair of the top high school boys basketball teams in Anchorage and Fairbanks took place at Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School over the weekend. A pair of games took place on Friday and Saturday, during which both Lathrop and West Valley emerged victorious on Day 1 but both the Thunderbirds and Grace Christian bounced back with impressive wins Saturday.

After getting blown out by Lathrop by nearly 20 points Friday, the Grizzlies rebounded with a 41-38 win over West Valley despite going the entire third quarter without a bucket.

“We have good players, we have good shooters and sometimes you just have to stick with it,” Grizzlies head coach Jason Boerger said. “Despite the adversity of not scoring in the third quarter, I’m glad our guys were able to get it done in the fourth.”

Advertisement

The three-time defending Division I state champion Thunderbirds defended their home court on Day 2 much better than they did the night before and handed the Malemutes just their second loss of the season. After trailing 31-28 at halftime, they went on a 19-4 run in the third quarter and stayed ahead the rest of the way even as Lathrop tried to mount a late rally but fell short as East prevailed 59-52.

“They’re a really talented team and I feel like they’re one of the better teams that people don’t really think about,” said East sophomore Baba Sabally, who tied for the team lead with 16 points, half of which came in the pivotal third period. “We started rebounding better, we started pushing the ball in transition, getting easy baskets over the top and we just played together.”

In Division II prep hockey action, North Pole claimed the first state title in program history on Saturday night out in Palmer. The Patriots defeated perennial powerhouse Houston 3-1 thanks to goals from three upperclassmen and 34 saves from junior goaltender Kieran Olson.

[South hockey claims second CIC region title in 3 years with comeback win over Dimond]

On the college hoops scene, the UAA men’s team established a three-game win streak by winning both home tilts against Great Northwest Athletic Conference foes last week. The Seawolves were powered to a 77-70 victory over Central Washington on Thursday by a pair of career days by two Anchorage products. Senior forward Bishop Tosi led the team with a career-high 30 points and fellow senior, guard Hasaan Herrington finished with a double-double by leading the team with a career-high 14 assists and was third in scoring with 13 points.

Advertisement

Bishop made some great shots and Hasaan fought through cramps in the second half to give us huge performances,” UAA head coach Rusty Osborne said in a statement.

Two days later on Saturday, his team blew out Northwest Nazarene 71-53 in a game where four Seawolves reached double figures in scoring. Junior forward Sylas Williams recorded his seventh double-double of the season by leading the team with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Tosi was second in scoring with 14 points and was named GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the second time in his career.

Bishop was outstanding for us this weekend on both ends of the floor,” Osborne said. “He continued his excellent play since we came back from winter break. He has been efficient offensively and continues to be tremendous for us on the defensive end as well.”

The UAA women’s basketball team got nearly a third of its points in a 79-69 road win over rival University of Alaska Fairbanks from senior guard Elaina Mack, who led the team with 25. The King Cove product knocked down five 3-pointers and led the team with four steals as well.

“We did a nice job on the boards and withstood an impressive 3-point barrage by Fairbanks, and Elaina kept coming up with big shots at the most opportune times,” UAA head coach Matt Thune said in a statement. “Elaina was coming off a couple tough games, but she showed her character, skill and overall leadership today to lift us to a critical win.”

Advertisement

After coming up short Friday night in the program’s first game at Sullivan Arena in nearly six years, the UAA hockey team bounced back with a vengeance on Saturday to beat in-state rival UAF 3-2 in overtime.

The UAA hockey team celebrates a goal during a 3-2 overtime win over UAF in the Governor’s Cup on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. (Stephanie Burgoon / UAA Athletics)

“Saturday’s win was big for our program for a lot of reasons,” head coach Matt Shasby said. “After a tough night before, our group showed real character and resiliency, which speaks to the culture our players are building every day. The results haven’t been there often enough this year but this team refuses to quit on each other, and that’s what pack mentality is all about — sticking together and responding the right way when things don’t go your way.”

A crowd of more than 4,800 fans was treated to a thrilling back-and-forth game in which the game-winning goal was scored by local product, junior forward Aiden Westin of Anchorage.

“To see an Anchorage kid score the overtime winner made it even more special,” Shasby said. “Our players understand what it means to represent this city and this state, and moments like that show young players in Alaska that you can grow up here, play in front of your hometown fans, and make a huge impact at this level. It was a great night for our team and a great night for Anchorage hockey.”

[UAA hockey falls to rival UAF in bittersweet return to Sullivan Arena for Governor’s Cup]

The UAA track and field team saw a pair of program records fall Saturday in Reno at the Wolf Pack Classic. Junior hurdler Liv Heite and sophomore distance runner Hunter Taddy each lowered their own school records. Heite‘s mark of 8.61 seconds in the 60 hurdles was a record and tied for seventh all-time in GNAC history while Taddy recorded a record time of 1:23.66 in the 600 and 1:57.76 in the 800.

Advertisement
UAA sophomore Marit Flora competes in the Denver University Invite on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. Flora finished in fifth place in the 7.5-kilometer freestyle race on Sunday with a time of 22:22. (Adri Meyer / UAA Athletics)

The UAA ski team had a strong showing at the Denver University Invite over the weekend. On Saturday, junior Corbin Carpenter led the Seawolves with a third-place finish in the 10-kilometer classic with a mark of 25:09. The following day, sophomore Marit Flora of Anchorage came in fifth in the 7.5-kilometer freestyle race Sunday with a time of 22:22.

The UAA gymnastics team came in third at the Air Force tri-meet Friday but had several impressive individual performances. Junior Claudia Lessig produced a season-best score of 38.250 in all-around while senior Madelyn Gomez led the Seawolves with a 9.65 vault and a 9.5 on uneven bars.

“We had some nice highlights during a tough meet, and our best scores fortunately were good enough to earn a season high,” UAA head coach Marie-Sophie Boggasch said in a statement. “Claudia continues to be rewarded for her hard work in the gym.”

The Anchorage Wolverines lost their lead in the AK 49 Cup standings after getting swept by the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on the road over the weekend. They lost 7-1 and 5-1. Their lone goals came from forwards Harout Arutyunyan and Balint Lobenwein. With the two losses, they narrowly trail the Ice Dogs by a point in the Cup standings 20-19.

Alaska stars shining Outside

Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas (18) celebrates scoring against Minnesota United with midfielder Cristian Roldan, second from right, and forward Jesús Ferreira, left, during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Anchorage’s Obed Vargas had his dreams come true in more ways than one this past week. Coming off a breakout season for the Seattle Sounders in the MLS, the 20-year-old signed a 4.5 year contract with Athletico de Madrid last Sunday and made his LaLiga debut on Thursday in the 79th minute of a 5-0 semifinal win over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey.

Even though he was among the Seattle Seahawks game-day inactives Sunday, Anchorage’s Brandon Pili still became the third born-and-raised Alaskan NFL player, and fourth overall to become a Super Bowl champion following the team’s 29-13 blowout of the New England Patriots. The former Dimond standout joins an elite fraternity that includes North Pole’s Daryn Colledge (2010) and Anchorage’s Mark Schlereth, who is a three-time champion. Steve Smith II was born in Anchorage but grew up primarily in California and won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2007.

Anchorage’s Chris Kuper has big shoes to fill in the City of Brotherly Love as he is slated to replace renowned offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland as the new offensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He most recently spent the past four years with the Minnesota Vikings serving in the same role under Kevin O’Connell where his path previously crossed with his new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who spent time on the team’s practice squad in his last year as a player during the 2023 season.

Advertisement

Anchorage’s Daishen Nix helped the Rio Grande Valley Vipers improve their winning streak to three last week in the NBA G-League. He recorded scoring performances of 20-plus points in both of the team’s wins. In a 130-116 win over the Valley Suns on Wednesday, he recorded another triple-double by leading the team with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. On Thursday, in a 112-111 win over the Austin Spurs, he led the team in all three categories again and recorded a double-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds and added seven assists.

Two former Gatorade Players of the Year faced off at the collegiate level for the second time this season on Saturday. Isaiah Moses of Dimond helped lead the Eastern Washington University men’s basketball team to a 72-71 win over Montana State University and Patrick McMahon of Colony, who had as many fouls as points with four apiece. Moses tied for the second most points on the Eagles with 11 while McMahon led the Bobcats with six assists and recorded eight points.

Anchorage’s Sayvia Sellers powered the University of Washington women’s basketball team to a 91-86 bounce-back win over Wisconsin on Sunday. The former Anchorage Christian star finished second on the team in scoring with 23 points three days after she dropped 26 points in a loss to Ohio State.

Advertisement

Palmer’s Hallie Clark nearly matched her single-game career-high scoring total for the Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball team Thursday. In a 78-48 blowout win over MSU Denver, the former Colony star and Gatorade Player of the Year tied for for the second-most points on the team with 17, just one shy of a personal-best.

Anchorage’s Mikayla Johnson recorded 16 points in back-to-back games for the University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball team. The former Bartlett standout finished second on the Panthers in scorning and tied for the lead in rebounds with six in an 86-65 loss to Stanford on Thursday and finished second in both Sunday in a loss to the University of California Berkley.

Fairbanks’ Stewart Erhart extended his streak of consecutive games reaching double figures in scoring for the Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team to 17 in a row this past week. In back-to-back narrow losses to N.M. Highlands and Adams State, the former West Valley star and Gatorade Player of the Year recorded 18 points in both outings, totaled nine steals, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.

Anchorage’s Colin Kessler didn’t just find the back of the net for the second week in a row for the University of Vermont men’s hockey team, he recorded a goal in consecutive games for the first time this season. The sophomore forward scored the first goal and assisted on another in a 6-1 win over Boston College on Friday then recorded the Catamounts lone goal in a 6-1 loss to Providence on Saturday night, bringing his season total to five in 18 games.

Anchorage’s Mac Swanson also recorded his fifth collegiate goal of the season over the weekend for the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team. In a 4-1 win over Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday, the sophomore forward found the back of the net for the first time since early November and logged at least one assist for the fourth game in a row with two.

Advertisement

Anchorage’s Emily McCutcheon continued the strong start to her sophomore season on the Western Washington University softball team by recording her first collegiate home run. The former South slugger and two-time Gatorade Player of the year sent the ball over the left center for two of her four RBIs in a 14-4 win over Colorado Christian last Tuesday. She recorded a hit on half of her four at bats.

Anchorage’s James Reinbold was recently revealed as one of only 26 NCAA Division I football players to be named First Team Academic All American. The former Dimond standout starred on the gridiron and in the class room at Cornell University, recording 45 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss and 4.5 sacks while maintaining a GPA of over 4.0 with a dual major in Government and Performing & Media Arts.

(If you know of an Alaska athlete who has achieved a standout performance or reached a noteworthy milestone Outside, emailsports@adn.comorjreed@adn.comwith the details.)

Fast Forward

Prep

Hockey

Advertisement

Division I state tournament at Sullivan Arena, Thursday-Saturday

The postseason for the 2025-26 high school season will officially come to a close this week in town. Action gets going on Thursday with the opening round, followed by semifinals Friday and the title tilt will be played Saturday at 5 p.m.

Girls hockey

State tournament at Ben Boeke, Thursday-Saturday

Next door, the 2025-26 girls high school season will also be wrapping up this week on the same days. Dimond-West and South-Bartlett have first-round byes and will face the winners of Service-East versus Palmer-Wasilla and Chugiak-Eagle River versus Kodiak-Tok (Friday 3:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.) and the championship will be Saturday at 1:15 p.m.

Advertisement

Girls basketball

Grace Christian at Mountain City Christian, Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The best matchup in town will pit the three-time defending 3A state champion Grizzlies against the powerhouse Lions who are looking like the cream of the crop in the entire state this year.

Boys basketball

Service at West, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Advertisement

The top matchup in town on the boys side will feature the second-seeded Cougars traveling to play the third-seeded Eagles, according to the MaxPreps CIC standings. In the first meeting between these two teams last month, Service successfully defended its homecourt with a 10-point win.

College

Women’s Basketball

UAA vs. Western Washington at Alaska Airlines Center, 7 p.m., Thursday

The Seawolves will be back in town to take on a pair of GNAC foes with a chance to avenge their road loss to the second-seeded Vikings to split the season series on and sweep Simon Fraser on Saturday with a tip-off time of 5:15 p.m.

Advertisement

Men’s Basketball

UAA vs. UAF at Alaska Airlines Center, 7:30 p.m., Saturday

The Seawolves will be taking the court just once this week and will put their winning streak on the line at home against their instate rival Nanooks, who are looking at establishing a winning streak of their own.

• • •

Last week’s results

High school

Boys hockey

Monday

Advertisement

Service 7, Bartlett 1

Tuesday

Dimond 3, Service 1

Eagle River 4, Chugiak 2

Thursday

Advertisement

North Pole 11, Kodiak 0

Soldotna 2, Juneau-Douglas 1

Houston 2, Monroe Catholic 1

Wasilla 6, Colony 1

South 5, Eagle River 0

Advertisement

Palmer 2, Delta 1

West Valley 4, Lathrop 0

Dimond 4, West 3

Friday

Juneau-Douglas 3, Kodiak 1

Advertisement

Delta 5, Monroe Catholic 4

North Pole 2, Soldonta 0

Colony 6, Lathrop 0

Houston 7, Palmer 1

Eagle River 3, West 2

Advertisement

Wasilla 4, West Valley 3

Service 4, Chugiak 3

Saturday

Juneau-Douglas 7, Delta 2

West Valley 5, Colony 3

Advertisement

Palmer 3, Soldotna 1

• • •

Basketball

Girls

Sunday

Craig 35, Petersburg 15

Advertisement

Monday

East 49, Eagle River 35

Tuesday

Susitna Valley 45, Tikigaq 32

Seward 68, Ninilchik 5

Advertisement

Mt. Edgecumbe 57, Sitka 49

Redington 48, Houston 28

Wasilla 72, Palmer 18

Bartlett 76, South 18

Chugiak 58, East 13

Advertisement

Service 66, West 34

North Pole 55, West Valley 31

Kenai Central 61, Homer 26

Colony 65, Mountain City Christian Academy 51

Dimond 43, Eagle River 22

Advertisement

Wednesday

Shishmaref 54, Brevig Mission 36

Tok 75, Nenana 22

Shishmaref 67, Gambell 18

Chugiak 51, Dimond 41

Advertisement

Thursday

Nunamiut 64, Meade River 52

Tok 55, Fort Yukon 48

Dimond 61, West Valley 26

Minto 64, Tri-Valley 44

Advertisement

Mountain City Christian Academy 66, South 23

Service 65, Lathrop 39

Scammon Bay 54, Aniak 38

Monroe Catholic 62, Delta 25

West 65, East 34

Advertisement

Bartlett 74, Ketchikan 29

Shishmaref 67, Koyuk Malimiut 39

Hoonah 55, Newhalen 48

Brevig Mission 132, Koyuk Malimiut 20

Chaputnguak 74, Nuniwarmiut 18

Advertisement

Friday

Fort Yukon 72, Meade River 35

Tok 58, Nunamiut 32

Kalskag 48, Akiachak 47

Cook Inlet Academy 43, Birchwood Christian 30

Advertisement

Scammon Bay 34, Hoonah 18

South 35, West Valley 29

Seward 70, Cordova 31

Minto 62, Nenana 37

Newhalen 82, Aniak 32

Advertisement

Barrow 60, Nome-Beltz 16

Mountain City Christian Academy 72, Dimond 55

Saturday

Davis-Romoth 65, Kisimgiugtuq 32

Hoonah 46, Aniak 34

Advertisement

Birchwood Christian 45, Nanwalek 33

Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat 39, Kwigillingok 31

Tuluksak 79, Kalskag 54

Newhalen 43, Scammon Bay 34

Lathrop 48, South 37

Advertisement

Seward 57, Cordova 18

Nunamiut 56, Nenana 54

Boys

Monday

Klawock 50, Hydaburg 40

Advertisement

East 86, Eagle River 17

Tuesday

Ninilchik 87, Seward 47

Mt. Edgecumbe 58, Sitka 53

Susitna Valley 57, Tikigaq 54

Advertisement

Redington 54, Houston 53

East 72, Chugiak 42

South 84, Bartlett 48

Delta 34, North Pole 33

Wasilla 61, Palmer 52

Advertisement

Kenai Central 70, Homer 22

Colony 81, Mountain City Christian 38

Dimond 93, Eagle River 28

West Valley 56, Monroe Catholic 43

Wednesday

Advertisement

Shishmaref 88, Brevig Mission 69

East 71, Dimond 42

Tok 77, Nenana 67

Shishmaref 57, Gambell 49

Klawock 56, Angoon 53

Advertisement

Thursday

Walter Northway 98, Nunamiut 65

Tok 80, Fort Yukon 75

Scammon Bay 81, Russian Mission 49

Ninilchik 82, Nikiski 39

Advertisement

Shishmaref 78, Martin L Olson 45

Monroe Catholic 48, Delta 37

Nuniwarmiut 73, Ayaprun 51

Susitna Valley 75, Homer 61

West Valley 66, Bartlett 27

Advertisement

Tanalian 80, Tuluksak 47

Sitka 70, Ketchikan 30

Grace Christian 64, Wasilla 43

West 55, South 50

Scammon Bay 67, Newhalen 47

Advertisement

Chaputnguak 81, Nightmute Elitnaurviat 30

Friday

Fort Yukon 61, Nunamiut 56

Scammon Bay 69, St. Mary’s 45

Soldotna 50, Kodiak 34

Advertisement

Shishmaref 84, Brevig Mission 43

Ket’acik and Aapalluk Memorial 51, Z John Williams 42

Nelson Island 91, Nuniwarmiut 52

Chaputnguak 102, Paul T. Albert Memorial 32

Akiuk Memorial 47, Anna Tobeluk 44

Advertisement

Ninilchik 52, Susitna Valley 48

Z John Williams 74, Joann Alexie Memorial 61

Aniak 91, Tanalian 68

Lathrop 73, Grace Christian 54

Cook Inlet Academy 90, Birchwood Christian 39

Advertisement

Anna Tobeluk 63, Joann Alexie Memorial 59

Juneau-Douglas 56, Sitka 49

Scammon Bay 69, Newhalen 40

Hoonah 61, Yakutat 18

Haines 55, Wrangell 36

Advertisement

West 89, Eagle River 23

West Valley 50, East 47

Service 84, Bartlett 28

Mt. Edgecumbe 72, Ketchikan 62

Valdez 52, Galena 44

Advertisement

Nelson Island 66, Chaputnguak 58

Gambell 63, Shishmaref 54

Akiachak 78, Tanalian 62

Metlakatla 56, Craig 47

Saturday

Advertisement

Ket’acik and Aapalluk Memorial 46, Anna Tobeluk 38

Chaputnguak 96, Nuniwarmiut 70

Nunamiut 69, Merreline A. Kangas 27

Akiachak 93, Akiak 53

Nelson Island 106, Ayaprun 64

Advertisement

Hoonah 67, Yakutat 26

Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat 65, Kwigillingok 37

Grace Christian 41, West Valley 38

Nelson Island 105, Nightmute Elitnaurviat 90

East 59, Lathrop 52

Advertisement

College

Hockey

Gymnastics

Friday

1.) Air Force 195.800; 2.) Utah State 195.400; 3.) UAA 190.325

Advertisement

Friday

UAF 4, UAA 1

Saturday

UAA 3, UAF 2 (OT)

Women’s basketball

Advertisement

Saturday

UAA 79, UAF 69

Men’s basketball

Thursday

UAA 77, Central Washington 70

Advertisement

Northwest Nazarene 78, UAF 64

Saturday

UAF 89, Central Washington 81

UAA 71, Northwest Nazarene 53

NAHL

Advertisement

Friday

Fairbanks Ice Dogs 7, Anchorage Wolverines 1

Saturday

Fairbanks Ice Dogs 5, Anchorage Wolverines 1





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending