Submitted photo – The Academy of the Redwoods players celebrate their championship win on Friday.

The Academy of the Redwoods won its first-ever Coast League championship in basketball on Friday.

Competing at College of the Redwoods, the league season wrapped up with its annual basketball tournament at the Corsairs gym. 

And in the final game, Academy of the Redwoods defeated Zoe Barnum 30-23 to claim the historic breakthrough championship.

For the past 10 years, the Coast League has provided competitive inter-scholastic athletic opportunities for Humboldt County high school students attending small, alternative schools that are not a part of the larger Humboldt-Del Norte League. 

Seven different schools from around the county competed this season, with East High School, Eureka Community School, Northern United Humboldt Charter School, Redwood Coast Montessori and Six Rivers Charter High School joining Zoe Barnum High School and Academy of the Redwoods.

The weekly games are officiated by College of the Redwoods head coach Ryan Bisio and his players.

“Coast League has become an important part of the CR Athletic culture over the last several years,” CR Athletic Director Bob Brown said in a press release. “It is important for the college to continue to assist in providing exposure and opportunities for students in sports that allow them to showcase their skills while also learning the importance of teamwork, accountability, and discipline when competing.” 

The Coast League also runs cross country and track and field seasons and plans to add indoor soccer in the future.

The Coast League track season will get under way on April 30 and will feature four Tuesday meets, culminating on May 21.

The meets will be held at Fortuna Middle School from 3 to 4:30 p.m. each week.

“We are hoping to have as many as 10 charter and alternative schools participate in this great opportunity for students,” Eureka Community School Coach/Athletic Director Jason Maguire said. “Fortuna Elementary School District have been gracious enough to host four track and field meets at Fortuna Middle School.”

The meets will feature mostly high school aged athletes although some seventh and eighth graders will also compete.

The meets will include six different events, including shot put, standing broad jump, 50 meter sprint, 200m, invitational mile, and pentathlon for athletes who will compete in all five standalone events.

Alder Grove, Laurel Tree, Northern United Charter Schools, Academy of the Redwoods, Eureka Community School, Redwood Coast Montessori, Pacific View Charter School and Zoe Barnum will all compete.