Shaktoolik boys seek repeat as Fort Yukon girls aim for three-peat in 1A state basketball tournament

At the Division 2A level, the Unalakleet boys and Seward girls are also primed to make strong title defenses.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 1:51am

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Basketball teams and fans from smaller communities across the state will fill the Alaska Airlines Center this week for the Alaska 1A and 2A state basketball tournaments. The 1A tournaments start Wednesday and the 2A tournaments get rolling Thursday. Both levels conclude play Saturday. At the 1A level, the Fort Yukon girls basketball team will look to pull off an another title defense and claim a third straight championship as the second-seeded team. On the boys side, reigning state champion Shaktoolik is also entering the tournament as the second seed. At the 2A girls level, top-seeded Seward is poised to repeat and looking as strong as ever, entering the tournament with a 26-0 record. In the boys division, defending state champion Unalakleet is entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed this time after winning as the top seed last year.

Why it matters

The 1A and 2A state basketball tournaments are highly anticipated events that showcase the talent and passion of smaller communities across Alaska. These tournaments provide an opportunity for these teams to compete at the highest level and potentially claim state championships.

The details

In the 1A girls tournament, Fort Yukon is the second-seeded team and will look to defend its title from last year, when it edged out top-seeded Shaktoolik 37-33. The Eagles are returning senior all-tournament team selections Kylee Carroll, Jane Ward, and Nellie Ward. On the boys side, reigning state champion Shaktoolik is the second seed and will have to contend with top-seeded Minto and No. 3 seed Cook Inlet Academy, who fell to Shaktoolik in the state finals last year. In the 2A girls division, top-seeded Seward is poised to repeat as state champions, entering the tournament with a 26-0 record. In the 2A boys division, defending state champion Unalakleet is the No. 2 seed and will likely need to go through No. 1 Ninilchik, a perennial top contender, to repeat as champions.

  • The 1A tournaments start on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.
  • The 2A tournaments get rolling on Thursday, March 13, 2026.
  • Both the 1A and 2A tournaments conclude play on Saturday, March 15, 2026.

The players

Fort Yukon

The Fort Yukon girls basketball team is the second-seeded team in the 1A tournament and will look to defend its title from last year, when it edged out top-seeded Shaktoolik.

Shaktoolik

The Shaktoolik boys basketball team is the reigning state champion and is entering the 1A tournament as the second seed.

Seward

The Seward girls basketball team is the top-seeded team in the 2A tournament and is poised to repeat as state champions, entering the tournament with a 26-0 record.

Unalakleet

The Unalakleet boys basketball team is the defending state champion in the 2A tournament and is entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed this year after winning as the top seed last year.

Ninilchik

Ninilchik is a perennial top contender in the 2A boys tournament and is the No. 1 seed this year, likely standing in the way of Unalakleet's repeat bid.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The 1A and 2A state basketball tournaments showcase the talent and passion of smaller communities across Alaska, providing an opportunity for these teams to compete at the highest level and potentially claim state championships. The tournaments feature several teams and players primed to defend their titles, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive event.