‘Fearless’ Shaktoolik boys basketball team dominates en route to first-ever 1A state title

There were plenty of apt adjectives for the Shaktoolik boys basketball team and its performance Saturday at Alaska Airlines Arena.

“Fearless,” guard Seth Paniptchuk said.

“Confident,” Wolverines head coach Silas Paniptchuk said with a broad smile.

After the Wolverines’ 76-55 dismantling of Cook Inlet Academy, guard Chase Katchatag may have found the perfect descriptor.

“Historic,” he said.

With the victory in the Alaska 1A state title game, Shaktoolik earned its first boys basketball title in school history.

The Wolverines did so with a combination of energy, enthusiasm and skill, jumping out to a 23-13 lead after one quarter and refusing to take a foot off the accelerator.

“It’s become the standard for this group,” Silas Paniptchuk said. “You know, they get so hyped up for basketball. You put them out there on the court with a ball, they just want to go get it. It’s definitely fun to watch.”

The crowd roared its approval as the Shaktoolik players raced up and down the court, scoring in all manners and using an opportunistic defensive approach.

A solid second quarter by Cook Inlet Academy left the Shaktoolik lead at 41-33 at half.

Cook Inlet Academy’s Alek McGarry had a standout first half to keep the Eagles close. He was 8 of 10 from the floor and finished with 22 first-half points. McGarry led all scorers with 31 total points. His brother Ian McGarry added 16.

“We just had to stay pumped up and keep the momentum,” Seth Paniptchuk said. “The McGarry brothers are great players, so we just had to stay in it and try to contain them.”

And while Cook Inlet Academy crept closer in the third quarter, Shaktoolik simply could not be denied.

They maintained a double-figure lead after three quarters and ran away with the game in the fourth.

The two teams played twice during the regular season with Shaktoolik winning both games.

“Every time we played them, we wanted to apply a lot of pressure with our full-court press,” Silas Paniptchuk said. “That was kind of the same game plan today … The boys are really good at it.”

The Wolverines challenged shots and passing lanes all game, finishing with 22 combined blocks and steals.

Chase Katchatag finished with 22 points, while Seth Paniptchuk added 20. Ryan Evan added 16 for the Wolverines.

“I’m just proud of them,” Silas Paniptchuk said. “You know, they come to practice from day one. They come to practice at Christmas. They come to practice on weekends, if we have them. I’m just ever so proud that, you know, they take the time to commit to what we’re trying to accomplish here. And it paid off.”

With just eight players, the Shaktoolik bench was short, but a number of them are also cross-country athletes.

“I love these boys,” Seth Paniptchuk said. “They always they get up for practice every day and they’re fearless. I love playing with them.”