In the history of the Joe Floyd Christmas Tournament, Joe Floyd does not recall an opening day without an appearance of Kodiak’s boys basketball team.

That is going to change this year in the 43rd edition of the Joe Floyd Christmas Tournament that begins Dec. 17.

The Kodiak boys are absent from the first day of the three-day tournament. That’s because Kodiak’s activities office was only able to secure two boys teams for the field — Bethel and Point Hope. Kodiak’s junior varsity is going to round out the field.

KHS activities director Bryan Ferris said on Thursday that he didn’t schedule Kodiak for an opening night game, because it would have been a Kodiak-Kodiak matchup.

Instead, Kodiak’s girls will get the boys’ primetime spot at 7:45 p.m. against Grace Christian.

The girls’ field also includes Dimond and Bethel.

Dimond finished fourth at last year’s 4A state tournament. The Lynx ended Kodiak’s season in a loser-out game at state last year.

Bethel and Grace Christian are both 3A schools. Both schools are making their Joe Floyd Tournament debut, while Dimond is 7-8 in tournament games. The Lynx won the 2005 tournament — the last time

The Point Hope boys are the defending 2A state champions. The Harpooners defeated Noorvik in the state championship game.

This is the second consecutive year a 2A boys team has played in the Joe Floyd Christmas Tournament. Chevak went 0-3 at last year’s tournament, but rebounded to place seventh at the state tournament.

Point Hope and Bethel have never played in the Joe Floyd Christmas Tournament.

The Joe Floyd Christmas Tournament is the longest-running high school tournament in the state.

Schedule

Thursday, Dec. 17

Girls

3:45 p.m. — Dimond vs. Bethel; 7:45 p.m. — Kodiak vs. Grace Christian.

Boys

6 p.m. — Point Hope vs. Bethel.

Friday, Dec. 18

Girls

1 p.m. — Grace vs. Dimond; 5 p.m. — Bethel vs. Kodiak.

Boys

2:45 p.m. — Kodiak junior varsity vs. Point Hope; 7 p.m. — Bethel vs. Kodiak.

Saturday, Dec. 19

Girls

1:45 p.m. — Grace vs. Bethel; 5:30 p.m. — Kodiak vs. Dimond.

Boys

Noon — Kodiak JV vs. Bethel; 3:30 p.m. — Kodiak vs. Point Hope.