Norton Sound Shootout brings region together

Last weekend the Nanook’s welcomed seven schools, Brevig Mission, Gambell Boys, Newhalen, Point Lay, Savoonga, Shishmaref and White Mountain to play in Nome’s biggest 1A basketball tournament of the year.

“It’s kind of a homecoming in the bleachers which is always fun to see,” Nome-Beltz Athletics Director Patrick Callahan said. “It’s nice for our JV teams to play in these big crowds in pressure-packed games.”

The energy in the den was hyped all weekend, culminating in the final championship games Saturday night.

Nome-Beltz JV boys’ won the boys bracket, beating out Shishmaref in the final game 58-55.

Newhalen girls beat Brevig Mission in their championship game, taking the first-place title with a win of 61-40.

Often when one or two teams visit Nome the Nanook crowd dwarfs the visiting crowd, but that wasn’t the case during the Norton Sound Shootout. The gym was packed with visiting team supporters, sometimes making the Nome crowd feel like a visiting team.

“Something that always jumps out at me is the village teams don’t have cheerleading squads so the fans themselves break into crowd cheers spontaneously,” Callahan said.

Making It Happen

“I was pretty intimidated about pulling off the tournament with that many games and teams and getting enough referees, scorekeepers and ticket collectors to make it happen,” Callahan said. He put out an ask on Facebook a few days before the tournament and the Nome community came through. The tournament is a lot of work but Callahan said it’s worth it.

On Friday night Lena Danner organized a community fundraiser to buy pizza for every visiting team. The idea was given to Danner by an anonymous donor from Barrow who wanted to buy 13 pizzas for the visiting teams. Danner asked the community to match it allowing each team to get three pizzas.

Awards

Bryce Olympic of Newhalen scored 54 points during one game of the tournament, which is the second most player game points in the Den that Callahan has on record. The most was 55 points, scored during the same tournament back in 2003.

Callahan also said it’s rare for Nanook JV to win the Norton Sound

Shootout, making the victory that much sweeter.

Girls All Tournament: MVP Analeigh Wassillie, Newhalen; Karalee Wellert, Brevig Mission; ReAnnon Seppilu, Savoonga; Tricia Weyanna, Shishmaref; Ida Lester, Newhalen

Boys All Tournament:

MVP: Josh Contreras, Nome; Kevin Ongtowasruk, Nome; Bryce Olympic, Newhalen; Louis Iyatunguk, Shishmaref; Kenyon Southall, Brevig Mission.

This upcoming weekend the Nanook varsity teams will travel to Valdez for a tournament.

Photos by Anna Lionas PUT IT UP— Gavin Edwards of Savoonga attempts a basket during the rivalry game against Gambell at the Norton Sound Shootout.

TOWER POWER—Nome-Beltz Cheer squad makes a tower during halftime at the Norton Sound Shootout.

BODY SLAM— Dionte Kiyuklook of Savoonga jumps up to block Adrien Rychnovsky of Newhalen’s shot, slamming into him.

LET’S GO NANOOKS— Nome-Beltz student section celebrates a Nanook basket.

Photos by Anna Lionas TWIST— Kevin Ongtowasruk twists around to put up a shot.