The brackets are officially out, and the excitement around Alaska high school basketball is heating up! Isaiah, Keaton, Brad, and special guest, friend of the show, Nick Sorrell from Radio Kenai and "The Replay" break down the newly released 2026 ASAA March Madness Alaska Basketball State Tournament brackets, diving into the biggest storylines, top contenders, and potential Cinderella runs across all four classifications.

🏀 1A & 2A Brackets Breakdown

The show kicks off with a deep dive into the 1A and 2A girls and boys brackets, where the hosts highlight teams to watch and potential upset opportunities. Brad brings his firsthand perspective from coaching in 1A basketball, explaining the unique style and intensity that makes the classification so unpredictable.

One of the biggest storylines comes from Seward girls basketball, who enter the tournament with an incredible 54-game winning streak and sights set on extending it even further. Nick predicts the Seahawks could dominate the 2A girls tournament, while the group also reflects on the challenges smaller-school athletes face when it comes to statewide recognition.

The conversation also highlights Ava Jigilski’s remarkable quadruple-doubles and the standout play of Danil Chick, whose talent has the group discussing potential college opportunities and how better exposure and public relations could help 2A athletes gain more attention.

🏀 3A Tournament Storylines

The discussion then shifts to the 3A brackets, where the competition looks especially deep.

On the girls side, the Barrow Whalers enter as the top seed after an impressive season, including a statement win over Monroe. Meanwhile, the Kenai Cardinals are gaining attention thanks to a talented young core that could make noise in the tournament.

The 3A boys bracket might be the most unpredictable of them all. With teams like Mt. Edgecumbe, Valdez, Barrow, and Kenai all capable of making a run, the group agrees that nearly any team in the field could have been the top seed. Players like Alex Frewen of Barrow are highlighted as impact performers to watch when the tournament tips off March 18.

🏀 4A Tournament Preview

The hosts also preview the 4A state tournaments, spotlighting several standout athletes and programs expected to make headlines in Anchorage. Among those mentioned are Kennedy Gaines of Bartlett and standout players from Grace Christian, including Bristol Tobin and the Clarkson brothers.

🎙️ More Alaska Hoops News

The show also touches on UAA men’s basketball earning a spot in the West Region Tournament, adding even more excitement to the Alaska basketball scene this March. They play this week!

Watch this episode on AST YouTube: https://youtu.be/iY_gSks3oII

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Sunday, March 8: the AST March Madness Alaska Bracket Show will review all the ASAA Basketball State Tournament brackets, review seeding, RPI berths, and much more!

Monday, March 9: AST will release a show featuring coaches, and other local experts to talk all things March Madness Alaska!

Watch this announcement on AST YouTube: https://youtu.be/aruYlhf3hbs

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It’s officially tournament time in Alaska, and this episode was packed wall-to-wall with playoff energy. Isaiah and Brad kicked things off with the CIC Semifinals and Championship plans, reminding everyone that the games will be streamed LIVE on the NFHS Network starting at 3 PM on Friday. They also teased a Sunday show breaking down the full state brackets once released by Alaska School Activities Association. (Time TBD — stay tuned!) Yes, the NFHS referral program is real — and yes, it’s worth checking out.

🏒 Wolverines Heating Up

The playoff push is alive and well for the Anchorage Wolverines, who are coming off a huge weekend sweep of the Chippewa Steel. The momentum is building at exactly the right time — and the postseason picture is getting clearer.

🏀 College Basketball Drama in Alaska

On the hardwood, both Alaska Nanooks and Alaska Anchorage Seawolves are right in the middle of tournament conversations. UAF battled through a tough season but found their way into tournament play. Meanwhile, UAA’s Senior Night carried extra emotion as longtime head coach Rusty Osborne coached his final home game. A dramatic last-second shot initially looked like a buzzer-beating three, only to be reviewed and ruled a two — a moment that perfectly captured the intensity of this season. They also gave love to the UAA women’s squad and standout Elena Mack from King Cove, whose impact continues to show up in big moments.

🏀 High School Brackets Are Loaded

The high school scene is as balanced — and unpredictable — as we’ve seen in years.

• CIC, NLC, South-central tournament brackets (boys & girls)
• Conference Standings
• Tight RPI rankings for the 3A and 4A Boys and Girls
• The possibility of at-large berths shaking things up

In 3A, teams like Grace, Kenai, and Mount Edgecumbe are in the spotlight, while Barrow and Nome are eyeing top-seed opportunities. Coaching changes and enrollment shifts are also subtly reshaping competitive balance across conferences. Yes — the Northern Lights Conference bracket is stacked!

🔥 Rivalries & The Grind

They also talked about the emotional toll of back-to-back-to-back tournament weekends and the fierce rivalries that define Alaska basketball. Every possession matters. Every seeding matters. Every RPI point matters.

With the CIC tournament tipping off and state around the corner, the guys encouraged everyone to tune in on the NFHS Network — whether you’re at work, at home, or sneaking games on your second monitor.

🎧 Catch the CIC games live. 📊 Watch those brackets closely. 🏀 And buckle up — March is here.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SfPRHo4olb4

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This week on Alaska Sports Talk, Keaton, Isaiah, and Brad dive headfirst into one of the biggest weeks in Alaska sports this winter — and there’s no shortage of headlines. From coaching transitions at UAA to buzzer-beaters, undefeated hockey teams, and GNAC drama — this episode captures the pulse of Alaska winter sports.

🏀 UAA Basketball Enters a New Era

At the top of the show, the crew breaks down the major news out of the University of Alaska Anchorage: Rusty Osborne is stepping down after 22 seasons and 375 career wins as head coach of UAA men’s basketball.

Osborne will remain connected to the program in an advisory role, but this marks the end of a historic chapter for the Seawolves.

With the GNAC tournament implications looming for both the men’s and women’s teams, the Seawolves are still very much in the fight — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

🏆 Service Stays Perfect in the CIC

Over in high school hoops, Service boys basketball continues its dominant run. A dramatic buzzer-beater over East Anchorage — their first win over East since 2023 — pushes Service to 12–0 in conference play.

Coach Antonio Wyche has built something real in just his second season: depth, balance, toughness. The guys break down why this team feels built for March.

On the girls’ side, Bartlett has emerged as the team to beat in the Cook Inlet Conference, setting up what should be an electric postseason.

🏒 Hockey Championships & Undefeated Seasons

High school hockey wrapped up in style. South Anchorage capped off an undefeated championship run, The crew also touches on the challenge (and energy) of managing packed houses at charity games at the Sullivan Arena, where Alaska hockey culture continues to show up in a big way.

🏀 UAF Heating Up & Tournament Time

Up north, UAF basketball picked up key wins and is building momentum at the right time. Meanwhile, conference basketball tournaments are around the corner.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/t6t8Dn1f0nI

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Keaton, Brad, and Isaiah will join you next week again after hosts all battling various types of sickness this week! Next week we will discuss and review the high school basketball season and what conference tournament championships are looking like heading into March Madness Alaska!

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Friend of the pod Matt Nevala, from the Alaska Sports Report, joins Keaton Homer and Brad Lauwers (who hopefully has got his car out of a snowbank by now) to talk sports! Obviosuly high school hockey and college hockey. But, also Matt's thoughts on the future of Anchorage School District sports and where things could be heading. Also get a brief UAA basketball update as well on this episode of Alaska Sports Talk!

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hTopx9XUOWE

Please Like & Subscribe to the Alaska Sports Talk podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and more! Like & Subscribe to our YouTube page (@AlaskaSportsTalk) for video clips of the show!

Like and Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages plus visit AlaskaSportsTalk.com to see where you can listen to past and future podcasts!

This episode is a love letter to Alaska basketball, led by Joe—the walking encyclopedia of high school hoops who’s spent decades tracking teams, players, and tournaments across the state. Keaton, Isaiah, and Brad dive into Joe’s unmatched network (79 schools strong!).

The crew breaks down the current high school landscape: Lathrop rolling at 8–1, Anchorage teams battling, South coming off a Fairbanks tournament win, and Barrow being far more dangerous than their record shows. With just three weeks left in the regular season, March Madness talk heats up—brackets drop March 8, games start March 11, and Joe reminds everyone that predicting Alaska hoops is never easy.

They also touch on mentorship, the impact of the shot clock, Super Bowl picks (Isaiah holding down the Seahawks fandom), and a heartfelt fan story. The episode wraps with UAA basketball and hockey updates, NFHS Network highlights, and a jaw-dropping 70-save performance by freshman goalie Tristan Sanders—plus a promise that Joe will be back when March Madness Alaska chaos begins.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Es8U8jFO9PA

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All the boys are back! Keaton, Brad, and Isaiah brings serious Alaska sports juice as we are joined by Josh Muehlenkamp, West Anchorage Boys Basketball Head Coach, for a wide-ranging conversation that blends competition, community, and the heart behind coaching.

The crew opens with a breakdown of the Alaska Airlines Classic Basketball Tournament, where West Anchorage made an impressive run to the championship game in front of packed gyms and electric crowds. Coach Muehlenkamp dives into what makes the Classic special, why school games are critical for student engagement, and how growing student sections and community buy-in can take Alaska basketball to another level. The group reflects on coaching philosophies, learning through collaboration, and how growth often happens behind the scenes long before it shows up on the scoreboard.

The episode also gets tactical as Josh discusses team depth, player trust, and developing younger athletes—especially with quick turnarounds and tough matchups ahead. The focus isn’t just on today’s game plan, but on preparing players for future opportunities by giving them meaningful reps, building confidence, and balancing system basketball with individual strengths.

That player-development theme carries into a broader hoops discussion, touching on what college coaches really look for, the role athleticism plays in recruitment, and why investing in young players pays off long term. The guys then pivot to the college level with a UAA basketball update, highlighted by the men’s team climbing to third in the GNAC, earning Team of the Week honors, and Hassan Harrington’s emergence as a leader. The women’s team faces adversity after a tough stretch, setting up a challenging road slate against elite competition.

The episode wraps on the ice with a look ahead to the high school hockey state tournaments—Division I returning to Sullivan Arena for the first time in decades—and a big weekend series looming for the Anchorage Wolverines against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Tq71hkkSPRg

Please Like & Subscribe to the Alaska Sports Talk podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and more! Like & Subscribe to our YouTube page (@AlaskaSportsTalk) for video clips of the show!

Like and Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages plus visit AlaskaSportsTalk.com to see where you can listen to past and future podcasts!