We’ve got coverage from the 2025 Subway Showdown in this week’s Nanook Sports Minute.
Starting with Thursday, the girls’ team faced off against Unalakleet. The Wolfpack put up a fight, with Lizabeth Ivanoff leading the charge with 21 points. The Lady Nanooks spread the ball around with each player putting up an average of 6 points. They ultimately fell 48-43.
Later that night the boys’ team put on a clinic against Unalakleet with a 64-45 win to open the tournament. Kevin Ongtowasruk led the way with 12 points and the boys’ team similarly spread the ball around with nine Nanooks making it on the scoresheet.
Friday night Nome-Beltz's two teams took on Kotzebue. The boys once again put on a dominant performance against their arctic rivals, finishing with a score of 81-41. 10 players put up points in the game, with Finn Gregg, Cohen Booth, and Ongtowasruk leading the way with 18, 13, and 10 points each.
The girls' team also prevailed against the Huskies with a scrappy 47-44 win. That game went back and forth all night as each team dove and fought for the ball, but it was the Lady Nanooks that pulled ahead in the fourth to earn the win.
The cheer team was in action for every game, throwing out goodies between quarters and keeping the energy up. The community pep band played stadium classics like "Sweet Caroline" and "Seven Nation Army".
Saturday night the Lady Nanooks kicked things off with another close match against Lumen Christi. The Archangels showed a lot of fight all tournament and Saturday was no different. Both teams played tight defense all night but it was the Lady Nanooks that pulled ahead in the second half to win 34-24. Benny Lie led the scoresheet with 16 points.
Between matches Saturday night Nome-Beltz’s cross country seniors were recognized. Lacey Sherman, Lauren Kingstrom, Luke Hansen, Wookie Nichols, and Orson Hoogendorn took turns giving speeches. The latter two competed at the state meet back in October with both finishing in the top 10.
Despite the fresh snow that fell all day Saturday and howling winds, the Nome-Beltz gym was packed for the final match of the tournament. Su-Valley got off to a quick start and maintained a 9 point lead at the end of both the first and second quarters.
Then, some magic happened.
Gregg, who sat out much of the first half, put up 11 points in the third. Booth added another 7, and to cap off the quarter Hoogendorn capitalized on a breakaway to put the Nanooks ahead by a single point.
The gym lit up as the boys led for the first time all game. They went on to win 67-65 against Su-Valley and earn the 1st place trophy. Unalakleet took home 2nd place.
The girls’ team finished second behind Unalakleet, with Lie and Nichols both making the all-tourney team. Hoogendorn, Booth, and Gregg earned all-tourney for the boys.
This weekend the boys' team is headed to South Anchorage for a tournament while the girls are headed to Unalakleet for the Christopher Lockwood Memorial Tournament. If you’re headed to either one, help us out by sending pics or videos so we can feature them on next week’s Nanook Sports Minute.
