On the heels of its double victory against Craig High School the previous weekend at home, the Panthers reciprocated in kind as Wrangell High School's varsity basketball team lost both of its games in Craig on Feb. 12 and 13.
“They went alright,” team coach Ray Stokes said of the games. He explained the varsity squad hadn't played up to its potential the first night, losing by 16 points.
“The second night we played as good a game as we've done all season,” he said.
The Wolves lost by only three points on Friday, finishing 62 to the Panthers' 65.
Several players ended the game scoring in the double-digits. “It really helped out a lot,” said Stokes.
Tyler Gillen and Blake Stokes led the team for points with 17 apiece. Bryce Gerald came away with 12 points. Stokes said Mason Dingwall and Aaron Howell had also put forward good efforts, scoring two and six points.
Had the Wolves won either of its two games, the team would have taken first for the conference heading into regional play. As it stands, Wrangell's placement will depend on how its games this weekend in Haines and those between Metlakatla and Craig go.
“It easily could end up in a three-way tie for first place,” said Stokes.
“All of us are ranked number one at this point,” said Jack Carney, Wrangell Public Schools' activities director.
Looking ahead, the coach said his players would need to work on its defense, stopping more baskets from happening. Offensively, too, Stokes said there was room for improvement. “We need to try and implement our running game a little bit more.”a
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