42nd Joe Floyd Christmas Basketball Tourny Starts Today

Erik Wander/KMXT

The 42nd annual Joe Floyd Christmas tournament tips off today (Thursday) at Kodiak High School. A total of 12 boys and girls games are scheduled for the three-day event, with six teams from five schools set to visit Kodiak for the round-robin tournament.

Kodiak Athletic director Steve Rounsaville said a lot more work goes into preparing for the Joe Floyd than most people imagine, and that the event is more than just a basketball tournament. He’s also glad to see teams from various regions of the state coming to Kodiak this year, including Homer, Chevak, Petersburg, Nome and South Anchorage.

— (Rounsaville 1 42 sec "It’s a lot of work … we’re looking forward to it.")

Kodiak head coach Amy Fogle, back for her first season coaching the boys’ team after coaching them from 1995 to 2003 and then moving to the girls’ team, said she’s looking forward to getting the team on the floor against some potentially stiff competition. She doesn’t view the tournament as a gauge for how the team will perform the rest of the season, but rather as an opportunity to gain experience and playing time.

— (Fogle 1 35 sec "The kids are learning … for the last two weeks.")

Brett Larson coaches the Kodiak girls’ team and said he believes the girls can win the tournament, despite not being familiar with all the teams they will face.

— (Larson 1 36 sec "I’m not exactly sure … the Joe Floyd tournament, absolutely.")

Rounsaville said he expects capacity crowds for Kodiak’s games, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. I’m Erik Wander.