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WRITTEN BY VAN WILLIAMS

ALASKA ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

ANDREW KURKA

The Palmer native won three of six races at the Para Alpine Skiing World Cup in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia. In the sit ski downhill competition, the two-time Winter Paralympic Games medalist crashed in the first two competition, but completed the course to win on the third day. He also won a Super-G race Feb. 16 and a Giant Slalom event Feb. 19.

The winner is selected by a panel each Friday and announced Saturday at 11 a.m. on the Sports Guys on CBS Sports Radio 590AM and 96.7FM. View past winners here.

Wilson in the mix for scoring title in Swedish Basketball League

February 24, 2020

Derrick Wilson

Derrick Wilson of Anchorage has a shot to win the scoring title in the Swedish Basketball League.

The fourth-year pro with Stockholm-based Djurgarden ranks third in the league with a career-best average of 20.2 points per game.

Former G League player Brandon Rozell leads the league in scoring at 21.3 points per game. No. 2 sits at 20.8.

Pili scores 32, becomes sixth Alaska woman to net 30 at D1 level

February 23, 2020

Alissa Pili

USC freshman Alissa Pili of Anchorage by herself outscored Washington State in the first half en route to scoring a career-high 32 points to power the Trojans to a 66-60 Pac-12 road win.

The 6-foot freshman drilled a 3-pointer late in the second quarter to give her 20 points as USC took a 37-19 lead into halftime.

Washington State made its move in the third quarter and sliced the lead down to six early in the fourth quarter. On three different occasions, however, Pili scored buckets to hold off the Cougars.

Hall extends points streak to five games for No. 1 Norwich

February 22, 2020

Jordan Hall

Jordan Hall of Anchorage extended his points streak to five games after scoring early in the first period for Norwich University in a 9-0 win over Castleton in NCAA D3 men's hockey.

The senior forward lit the lamp for his 10th goal of the season four minutes into the game, opening the flood gates for the No. 1-ranked Cadets.

Norwich (22-2-2) pushed its unbeaten streak to 16 games, improving to 14-0-1 since Dec. 6.

Kenneth Savo

Kenneth Savo of Dillingham scored all of his season-high 22 points in the final 22 minutes of the game to lead Whatcom College to an 86-82 come-from-behind overtime win over Shoreline in the NWAC.

The 6-foot sophomore guard took the game over early in the second half when he scored 10 straight points to single-handedly erase his team's four-point halftime deficit.

Prayer scores career-high 39 points in 34 minutes for Imperial

February 21, 2020

Lyndon Prayer

Anchorage's Lyndon Prayer had a career night for Imperial Valley and for one half had his team playing like a Pacific Coast contender.

The 6-foot-1 sophomore guard pumped in 25 of his career-high 39 points in a competitive second half against Palomar in the California Community College Athletic Association.

Palomar won the game 108-89 but Imperial Valley won the second half 52-50 behind Prayer's 7-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-9 from long range.

He also went 7-for-8 from the foul line to lead the charge as last-place Imperial Valley (1-15) held its own against third-place Palomar (11-5) in the CCCAA's Pacific Coast division.

Prayer, of West High fame, finished 12-for-26 from the floor and sank 7-of-17 3-pointers. He set season highs in points and 3s in addition to rebounds (9).

He upped his scoring average to 12.3 in 26 games. He ranks fourth in the Pacific Coast with 65 3-pointers.

Saville blanks Colorado College to earn first college shutout

Isaiah Saville

Anchorage's Isaiah Saville turned aside all 22 shots he faced to highlight the University of Omaha hockey team's 5-0 win over Colorado College in Nebraska.

The score was 1-0 entering the third period before Omaha exploded for four goals. Saville made five saves in the final period.

The freshman goaltender raised his save percentage to .905 - the highest that number has been since Nov. 22.

This was the second time he had beaten Colorado College in two meetings. Omaha won 4-1 in a Jan. 25 meeting with Saville making 38 saves.

Saville, of West High fame, has posted a 9-9-4 record this season.

Kurka strikes alpine gold in Russia, wins three World Cup races

February 20, 2020

Andrew Kurka

Palmer's Andrew Kurka was all or nothing at the Para Alpine Skiing World Cup in Russia.

He raced six times, winning three times and crashing three times.

The sensational sit-skier crashed and did not finish the downhill race in each of the first two days of competition.

He came back on Day 3 to win gold in the final downhill race.

Catherine Sunny

Catherine Sunny of Nightmute has been a nightmare lately for opposing defenses in the NWAC.

The Highline Community College women's basketball standout has averaged 18.3 points over the last four games, highlighted by her career-high 25-point effort in a 65-61 win over South Puget Sound College.

Updike, Dunbar run well at David Hemery Valentine Invitational

February 19, 2020

Isaac Updike

Ketchikan's Isaac Updike didn't repeat as 3,000-meter run champion at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston.

But he did run much faster, dusting his time from a year ago.

The 27-year-old placed 10th out of 192 finishers in the men's 3,000 in 7:47.93, blowing the doors off his 2019 time of 7:56.63.

Last year, won a photo finish by just 0.13 seconds.

Dray among nine players selected for All-Tribal Volleyball Team

February 18, 2020

Sydney Dray

Dillingham's Sydney Dray is an undersized outside hitter with a big game.

The 5-foot-6 junior star stood tall for Haskell Indian College this season, earning all-conference second team honors and being awarded the Champion of Character Award.

Dray was again recognized with her recent selection to the All-Tribal Volleyball Team by the Tribal Sports Network.

Monumental moment: Hebard, Pili go head-to-head in Pac-12

February 17, 2020

Ruthy Hebard and Alissa Pili

As generational players from the same era, Ruthy Hebard of Fairbanks and Alissa Pili of Anchorage will forever be linked.

Together they have lifted Alaska women's basketball to new heights.

And even though they did not face each other in the only year they were in high school at the same time, they both wound up in the Pac-12, so it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed.

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The Alaska Sports Blog is hosted by the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame and written by Van Williams, formerAnchorage Daily News sports editor. The goal of the blog is to bring positive attention to Alaskans making good in sports on the international, national and local levels and to provide a forum for public discussion.

We always welcome your input and story ideas!

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Harlow

Harlow Robinson

Executive Director

Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

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