The Lower Kuskokwim School District’s basketball tournament kicked off on March 3 with the Mekoryuk Herders facing off against the Kipnuk Falcons' boys team. For the Mekoryuk team, the game marked their first return to the tournament in about 20 years.
The Herders started the game with an early lead, six points ahead of the Falcons. However, the Falcons quickly pulled ahead and went on to defeat Mekoryuk 69-30. But for the Mekoryuk team, this was a special game.
“I was scared. I felt like puking at first, but then it got better as we were playing,” said Dana Kiokun, one of Mekoryuk’s two female players.
Mekoryuk is the only coed team in the tournament. Dana said that she doesn't mind playing against boys.
“I’m used to it. There's not that much girls where we live, so we end up playing with the boys. It builds our strength to go against other players if we ever have a girls team,” said Dana.
Dana's teammate, Keynon Weston, was excited for his first district tournament. He described the two point shot he earned for the Herders.
“I tried to go back. I couldn’t, so I just shot it,” Weston said.
The small village of Mekoryuk, located on the northern part of Nunivak Island, has just over 200 people and only about 45 students in their school. For over two decades, the village hasn’t had enough players for a team. Coach Edward Kiokun said that they hadn't had a team since he played for the school.
“That was back when I graduated.That long period when we didn't have enough students to play was a big thing for Mekoryuk,” Kiokun said.
Mekoryuk has a long tradition of basketball, according to Kiokun.
“I believe the very first district champion was Mekoryuk in ‘89. And then again in ‘91. And ever since then, Mekoryuk has always been in the district tournaments, up until the early 2000s,” said Kiokun.
This year’s team formed a little over a month ago; they just started practicing in mid-January. The team defeated Newtok in the island district tournament to advance to the LKSD tournament.
“They're not used to this type of organized sports,” said Kiokun. “They really fought hard, really fought hard to get here, so they deserve everything in my book. They did a great job just being here. Anything more than this is bonus.”
LKSD's tournament continues throughout the weekend, with the girls' championship beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. It will be followed by the boys' championship at 8 p.m.
