Petersburg senior Triston Welton attempts a layup over senior Robbie Marshall during the fourth quarter of Friday's boys' varsity game. The Wolves would later lose the game by only two points.
It's possible to have your heart broken twice in one weekend, judging by the scores from this weekend's homecoming boys basketball games.
The Wolves lost Friday night's game to the rival Vikings by two points after leading by two after the first quarter, trailing by two at the half and at the end of the third quarter by four, and pouring on a 17-point offensive barrage in the final act. In the end, it wasn't to be. The Wolves fell 47-45 in the opening to the latest chapter of the Battle of the Wrangell Narrows.
The Wolves were up by a point as late as 1:53 in the fourth quarter, when senior Robbie Marshall squared up and shot a three to give the Wolves their first lead since the second quarter, and bringing the home crowd roaring to life. However, defensive gaps, an untimely traveling call, and a turnover at the wrong instant led to a Vikings victory, said head coach Ray Stokes.
"For about two possessions, we didn't play very good defense, and didn't rebound the ball at all," he said. "We were supposed to step in and block off the lane and we didn't do a very good job of it."
"I thought the boys played a heck of a ball game on Friday night, just unfortunately we didn't win it," Stokes added. "We played very well."
Saturday's 49-32 score better reflected the unequal terms of engagement Wrangell often faces against the better-manned, more experienced Vikings. Petersburg High brought 16 players on the ferry last weekend to the home team's 15. The Wolves fielded a lone senior, and the Vikings brought a full squad. Wrangell's roster includes two players over six feet tall to the Vikings' eight.
"That's what happens in these small schools, you take what you get," he said. "I'm happy with the boys here, especially recently. They've taken what they had and we've kind of figured out some things that are starting to work for us."
The Vikings led by double digits through every quarter of play to the locker-room and the homecoming dance.
"We weren't patient, we dug ourselves a big hole, and then all of the sudden the game changes," he said. "You're behind by double digits and then you're forced to play a different style than what we wanted to play."
The Wolves struggled offensively Saturday, shooting 3-for-18 from behind the arc and hitting 25 percent from the field. They would get within 12 points during the third, before ultimately losing.
"Petersburg came out in a zone the second night and we didn't seem to look for the optimum shot like we did the night before," Stokes said. "I think that was a big difference between the two nights."
"Hopefully it'll be a thing that we get some experience and we learn something from," Stokes added.
The annual Petersburg-Wrangell matchup has no ramifications for the Wolves' conference standing, apart from bragging rights. Their record remains 2-4 on the season against conference opponents.
Friday night, senior Robbie Marshall led the scoring with 17 points, including a pair of clutch fourth-quarter three-pointers that kept the Wolves competitive as the final seconds ticked away. Marshall also contributed five two-point field goals and shot one-for-three from the line.
Sophomore Blake Stokes followed with nine points on one three-point shot, two additional field goals and two-for-two from the line.
Senior Tristan Welton led the Vikings offense with 16 points, one three-pointer and five field goals, and three-for-four from the line. Junior Colby Bell followed with 10 points on four field goals and two-for-four from the line.
The Vikings kept all Wolves' scorers out of the double digits Saturday. Sophomores Bryce Gerald and Tyler Gillen netted seven each. Gerald struck three times from the field and made one fourth-quarter trip to the line to shoot one-for-two. Gillen had one field goal from behind the arc and another from inside it, and shot two-for-three from the free-throw line.
Stokes and Marshall followed with five points each.
The Vikings suffered an embarrassment of offensive riches in Saturday's sequel. Three Vikings players scored in double digits. Senior Michael Brock and freshman Jesse Lantiegne each scored 11 points. Lantiegne tallied five field goals from inside the arc, and shot one-for-three from the line. Brock did most of his business outside the line, knocking down three three-pointers over the course of the evening.
Junior Kayin McCay trailed with 10 points.
Junior Varsity
The JV squad also dropped their homecoming games, 64-35 Friday and 40-20 Saturday.
Freshman Dawson Miller led the Wrangell offense Friday with 11 points on four two-point field goals and three-for-four from the line. Blossoming perimeter impresario Gillen followed with three three-pointers in the third quarter.
Sophomore Jordan Lapeyri led the Vikings offenders with 23 points. Lapeyri reaped 17 points from the field and shot six-for-eight from the free-throw line. Freshman Alan McCay followed with 11 points.
Freshman Trent Stokes and sophomore Chet Armstrong led the Wolves' offense with four points each Saturday night. Freshmen Sam Prysunka and Sam Armstrong, and Gillen followed with three points each.
Lapeyri again led the Vikings Saturday with 12 points, nine from the field and three from the free-throw lines.
The Wolves continue their season this weekend on the road against Craig.
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