Father-daughter duo leads Mountain City to 4A girls state basketball title

Lonnie and Brooklynn Ridgeway help propel Lions to victory over Bartlett Golden Bears

Mar. 23, 2026 at 12:56am

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Head coach Lonnie Ridgeway and his daughter Brooklynn Ridgeway of Mountain City Christian Academy led their team to the Alaska 4A state girls basketball championship with a 55-45 win over Bartlett. Brooklynn scored a game-high 22 points and was named Player of the Game, while senior Keelie Kronberger added 20 points in her final high school game.

Why it matters

The Ridgeways' championship victory marks the program's third state title since moving up to the 4A level in 2022, breaking a two-year stranglehold that Mat-Su powerhouses Wasilla and Colony had on the division. The father-daughter duo's journey to the title included early morning workouts, rigorous conditioning, and building team chemistry.

The details

Brooklynn Ridgeway was the driving force for Mountain City, leading the team in scoring and earning Player of the Game honors. The Lions led by as many as 19 points at one point in the second half, and whenever Bartlett threatened to gain momentum, Brooklynn or Keelie Kronberger would knock down a clutch shot to keep Mountain City in control.

  • The Mountain City Christian girls basketball team won the Alaska 4A state championship on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • The Lions' journey to the title included early morning workouts and rigorous conditioning throughout the season.

The players

Lonnie Ridgeway

The head coach of the Mountain City Christian Academy girls basketball team and the father of star player Brooklynn Ridgeway.

Brooklynn Ridgeway

The star player for Mountain City Christian Academy, scoring a game-high 22 points and earning Player of the Game honors in the state championship victory.

Keelie Kronberger

The senior guard for Mountain City Christian Academy, scoring 20 points in her final high school game and helping lead the Lions to the state title.

Kennedi Gaines

The star sophomore guard for the Bartlett Golden Bears, who was the main scoring threat for the runner-up team.

Mountain City Christian Academy

The high school girls basketball team that won the Alaska 4A state championship, led by head coach Lonnie Ridgeway and star player Brooklynn Ridgeway.

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What they’re saying

“I've been blessed enough to start coaching when Brooklynn was just (starting out), and I just kept moving up with her from junior high to high school. As a father, throughout the years, time goes by so quick that I know that I get two hours a day, whether or not she's mad at me, but we're in the same room, working on the same thing, going in the same direction, so it's been a blessing.”

— Lonnie Ridgeway, Head Coach, Mountain City Christian Academy

“I feel like our team really had a fire on our head and I really wanted to win this for our seniors. I feel like I just went into this with a different level (mindset). ... I didn't want to feel like how I felt last year in the semis when we lost, so I'm glad I could help my team out.”

— Brooklynn Ridgeway

“I feel incredibly grateful. I feel like God really just blessed our hard work as a team. We played with so much dedication, and it just feels incredible that God was able to reward us with that. I can't express how happy I am.”

— Keelie Kronberger, Senior Guard, Mountain City Christian Academy

What’s next

The Mountain City Christian Academy girls basketball team will look to defend their 4A state title next season, with Brooklynn Ridgeway and other key players returning.

The takeaway

The championship victory for the Mountain City Christian Academy girls basketball team, led by the father-daughter duo of Lonnie and Brooklynn Ridgeway, demonstrates the power of family, dedication, and teamwork in achieving athletic success at the highest level.