Lady Wolves finish basketball year in Ketchikan

The Wrangell Lady Wolves basketball team traveled to Ketchikan last week for the regional tournament, and lost both its games to teams from Haines and Metlakatla.

The Lady Wolves first faced the Lady Glacier Bears of Haines Wednesday, Feb. 29. Wrangell was defeated 32-48. The loss led them to play the Metlakatla Lady Chiefs on Friday - a game that ended in another loss for the Lady Wolves. The final score was 27-44.

Wrangell head coach Dave Silva said his players did well defensively at Regionals, but struggled on the offensive side of the court.

“The bottom line, we just had a hard time shooting the ball,” Silva said. “You have to make baskets to win the game, and we weren’t making baskets.”

The Lady Wolves were missing field goals and free throws, Silva said, which hurt the team during both of its early morning games.

Despite the losses, Silva commended the performances by junior Mykayla Rooney and freshman Darian Meissner at the tournament last week. Rooney “played her heart out,” he said, and Meissner, like always, was aggressive both offensively and defensively.

“That ninth-grader Meissner, she’s just one tough kid,” Silva said.

Senior Loni Buness, who throughout the season has proved she is a force to be reckoned with on the court, played well as well, Silva said. However, because of her reputation, Buness was often double-and tripled-teamed by her opponents trying to prevent her from scoring for Wrangell, Silva said.

Sophomore McKenna Harding played well during the Lady Wolves’ game against Metlakatla, Silva added.

Buness was voted onto the Regionals “all-tournament team.” Silva said coaches chose 12 players from the teams at the tournament for the special team. Buness also won an athletic academic award last week. Juniors MiKayla Stokes and Alyssa Allen won sportsmanship awards as well, Silva said.

After returning from Regionals, Silva reflected on his team’s basketball season. He said his team improved a great deal over the season and won more games than they had in previous years. The Lady Wolves won 10 out of approximately 22 games, Silva said. Wrangell also beat teams during the regular season they hadn’t in prior seasons, he added, including Haines.

The Lady Wolves also beat Petersburg four times during the regular season, Silva said.

“That was a very nice part of the season,” he said.

Next season, the Lady Wolves will have to improve their offensive skills, he said, and focus on making baskets.

“We have to be confident on moving the ball and putting it in the basket,” he said.

Silva praised his players for their efforts throughout the basketball season.

“It’s a great group of girls, they really worked hard all year, I mean all year,” Silva said. “I’m really proud of them.”