Shaktoolik’s Austin Rock drives to the basket against Minto during the championship game of the Alaska State 1A Boys Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Alaska Airlines Center. (Chris Bieri / ADN)
The Shaktoolik boys basketball team just keeps on churning out energetic performances on the basketball court.
And on Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center, the Wolverines churned out a second consecutive Alaska state 1A boys basketball championship.
Shaktoolik led wire to wire, and put an exclamation point on its 60-46 win over Minto with a slam dunk by Chase Katchatag in the final minute of play.
The team’s success boils down to one factor, according to Wolverines head coach Silas Paniptchuk.
“The energy,” he said. “They love basketball. It doesn’t take much to get them going. They love to hoop.”
Shaktoolik’s Chase Katchatage tries to maintain possession against a Minto defender during the championship game of the Alaska State 1A Boys Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Alaska Airlines Center. (Chris Bieri / ADN)
In typical fashion, the Wolverines got out to a fast start and led 18-10 after the first quarter. By halftime, the lead had grown to double digits.
“You kind of just untap them at the start of the game and let them do their thing,” Paniptchuk said. “I don’t try to manage too much on the basketball court with them, because they have such an instinct with the game.”
Katchatag was difficult to stop all game, notching a game-high 24 points.
Shaktoolik lost just one game all season, moving up in class to play Palmer.
“I think last year was a lot harder than this year but the championship was closer this year,” Katchatag said.
Minto’s Devante Bigfoot Jimmie tries to get a loose ball against the Shaktoolik defense during the championship game of the Alaska State 1A Boys Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Alaska Airlines Center. (Chris Bieri / ADN)
While Shaktoolik held a double-digit lead for most of the game, Minto showed plenty of tenacity, cutting the lead to single digits regularly.
“That’s been the strength of this team this year,” Paniptchuk said. “You know, anytime a team’s tested us, we’ve been able to answer right back. But we couldn’t pull away from those guys.”
Shaktoolik led 40-28 entering the final quarter and while Minto chipped away, they never truly challenged the Wolverines’ lead.
Guard Seth Paniptchuk had an excellent game of his own as the team’s floor general. He finished with 21 points and was a difference-maker on defense.
The Shaktoolik boys basketball team celebrates its win against Minto after the championship game of the Alaska State 1A Boys Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Alaska Airlines Center. (Chris Bieri / ADN)
Seth Paniptchuk said the team’s boundless energy comes in part from what they do the rest of the year.
“We’re all in cross country and we’re out hunting every day,” he said. “That’s where we get it.”
Austin Rock added 10 points for Shaktoolik and Minto was led by Jonathan David’s 11 points.
Winning a second title for this group was rewarding against a solid Minto team. In their 2025 win, the Wolverines topped Cook Inlet Academy 76-55 for the school’s first boys basketball title.
“It’s good to be back,” Seth Paniptchuk said. “This was a great team and they didn’t let off.”
Shaktoolik, a Northwest Alaska village located on Norton Sound, has only a few hundred residents. But basketball is a way of life there. The team’s crowd was loud and enthusiastic on Saturday.
“It means a lot,” Silas Paniptchuk said. “You know, these kids work so hard and the community supports them. Basketball is life for a lot of people. It brings everybody together.”
