The Nome Nanook basketball teams were in Seward this past weekend for a pair of games against the Seward Seahawks. The double-header saw the Nome girls leave undefeated and the boys’ team go home winless.
The Lady Nanooks took home a pair of double-digit wins, 59-32 and 53-27. The boys did not fare as well, however Coach Pat Callahan left the weekend optimistic.
“Saturday afternoon we led 29-23 at the halftime, we probably led by a point or two going into the fourth quarter. I thought it was the best games we’ve played all season even though we didn’t win those games.”
– Pat Callahan
The boys team lost a close game 65-59 against Seward on day one and then, after holding a slim lead going into the fourth quarter on day two, ended up losing 56-45.
With a young team comprised of mainly freshmen and sophomores, Callahan understands that this series is a learning experience. He says he sees Seward as a potential state tournament competitor.
“But I think overall, for the season, it was important to just play really tough games against a really good team and show improvement, and I think that’s what we did.”
– Pat Callahan
Lady Nanook’s Coach Joe Musich could not be reached for comment before the airing of this story.
The Nome girls will look to continue their success and the boys will hope to get back on track this week as the basketball teams are split between two different invitationals starting on Thursday.
Both boys’ and girls’ varsity squads will head to Kotzebue for the Husky Shootout against Nikiski, Homer, and Kotzebue, while the Nanook JV teams will host Golovin, Brevig Mission, and Kotzebue squads in Nome for the Norton Sound Shootout.
The Husky shootout started yesterday in Kotzebue just before the Norton Sound Shootout last night in Nome.
There will be a Facebook livestream on the Nome-Beltz Student Activities page for the Norton Sound Shootout. The schedule for the Norton Sound Shootout is as follows:
Thursday JAN 30 – 5:30 PM Nome JV vs Kotz JV (BOYS)
FRIDAY JAN 31 – 2:00 PM Kotz JV vs Brevig (GIRLS)
3:30 PM Kotz JV vs Brevig (BOYS)
6:00 PM Kotz JV vs Golovin (GIRLS)
7:30 PM Nome JV vs Golovin (BOYS)
SATURDAY FEB 1 – 12:00 PM Kotz JV vs Golovin (BOYS)
2:00 PM Kotz JV vs Brevig Mission (Girls) *Does not count in Girls Tourney Round-Robin
3:30 PM Brevig vs Golovin (BOYS)
6:00 PM Brevig vs Golovin (GIRLS)
7:30 PM Nome JV vs Brevig (BOYS)
Image at top: Nome-Beltz High School in October 2018. Photo: Katie Kazmierski, KNOM.
