Mountain City girls basketball reemerges as Alaska force

Perennial contender from Anchorage fills void left by departing stars

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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After a pair of Mat-Su teams have dominated the 4A level the past couple of years, a perennial contender from Anchorage is filling the void at the top. Mountain City Christian Academy's girls basketball team has reemerged as a force to be reckoned with, boasting a 19-1 record and impressive wins over top competition.

Why it matters

Alaska high school girls basketball has seen a changing of the guard in recent years, with several star players from the Class of 2025 moving on to college. Mountain City Christian Academy, a perennial contender, is now stepping up to fill that void and reassert itself as one of the top programs in the state.

The details

Mountain City Christian Academy lost an all-state player in Morgan Maldonado, but the team has improved as younger players have gained more experience. The Lions have scored 70-plus points in each of their last six games, five of which were double-digit blowouts. Their 19-1 record includes an impressive win over three-time defending 3A state champion Grace Christian.

  • Mountain City Christian Academy opened the season with 12 straight wins.
  • The Lions suffered their lone loss of the season to reigning state champion Colony on their home court in early February.
  • Mountain City Christian Academy has beaten top Cook Inlet Conference rival Bartlett twice this season, including an overtime win.

The players

Keelie Kronberger

A senior guard for Mountain City Christian Academy who believes this year's team has the potential to show what the next generation of players can do.

Lonnie Ridgeway

The head coach of Mountain City Christian Academy's girls basketball team, who is pleased with how his team is rounding into shape and capitalizing on what feels like a wide-open field.

Kennedi Gaines

A sophomore guard for Bartlett High School, who put up a strong fight against Mountain City Christian Academy in their second matchup of the season.

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What they’re saying

“They were all really good players, but now I think it's time for the next generation and a year younger just to show what we can do by ourselves.”

— Keelie Kronberger, Senior guard, Mountain City Christian Academy (adn.com)

“As we continued to play, we've gotten better at finding where each other are going to be.”

— Keelie Kronberger, Senior guard, Mountain City Christian Academy (adn.com)

“Kennedi is way faster in person than she looks on film, but it was fun.”

— Lonnie Ridgeway, Head coach, Mountain City Christian Academy (adn.com)

What’s next

Mountain City Christian Academy will face fiercer opponents to close out the regular season and in the playoffs, so being tested against top teams like Bartlett will be good practice for what to expect at the state tournament in less than a month.

The takeaway

After a period of dominance by Mat-Su teams, Mountain City Christian Academy has reemerged as one of the top girls basketball programs in Alaska, showcasing the depth of talent and coaching in the state's high school ranks.