Placing second in the Region V 2A Tournament and heading to State next weekend, the 2014-15 Wrangell High School basketball team: (top from left) Coach Ray Stokes, Dawson Miller, Bryce Gerald, Trent Stokes, Mikey Otteson, Mason Dingwall, assistant coach Jason Clark; (bottom from left) Sam Prysunka, Tyler Gillen, Arthur Acuna, Aaron Howell, Sam Armstrong, Blake Stokes and Garrett Miller.
For the first time in over a decade, Wrangell High School's boys basketball team is headed to the State Championships in Anchorage next week. The Wolves took second for their division at the Region V Tournament in Ketchikan last weekend.
"It was a fun tournament," said the team's coach, Ray Stokes. "The boys played some pretty good basketball this year, I thought."
During Thursday's game against Metlakatla the Wolves held a firm lead during the first half.
"They looked really good," commented WHS activities director Jack Carney.
Wrangell still held a lead until the fourth quarter, after which they failed to answer any of the Chief's 17 goals. Metlakatla ended up winning 38 to 29.
"That cost us the game," said Stokes.
"We were doing great the whole game until that last quarter," said Jason Clark, the team's assistant coach. In the game Blake Stokes scored eight points, while Bryce Gerald had scored five, in addition to getting eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.
"It was a shock," Carney said. "They knew they had to win their next two games to go to state."
The Wolves beat the Haines Glacier Bears the next day 53 to 40, setting themselves up for a contest with Craig for that second-slot berth.
"We've played pretty close games with them," Stokes said. During the season Wrangell and Craig had split evenly, despite the latter team's edge in speed and size.
"It was neck-and-neck at first," Carney said of Saturday's game. Wrangell jumped ahead after the half and was up by 19 points going into the fourth quarter.
"The leaders led and they did what they were supposed to do," Carney noted. Blake Stokes scored 20 points during the game, and Gerald came away with 15 points, 15 rebounds and four steals.
"He had a great game," Clark commented. During Friday's win over Haines, Gerald nearly had a triple-double as well, with 15 points, 17 rebounds and nine steals.
Against Craig, Mason Dingwall notched up some impressive stats as well, with six points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. And Trent Stokes came off the bench with 10 points and four rebounds.
"He was huge for us that game," said Clark. In the end, Wrangell maintained its lead over the Panthers, winning 61 to 50.
"We made some adjustments and we beat them pretty handily, which we have not done this year," Coach Stokes said of the team's overall performance.
Gerald and Blake Stokes were also recognized with the All-Conference Award. Athletes chosen for this honor have to meet criteria in the areas of work ethic, character, citizenship and skill level to qualify.
"Our best basketball is happening here at the end, which is nice," Coach Stokes said. Going into State he said the team needs to continue working on its shooting and keeping free of fouls.
"I believe they've become much more skilled. They play together as a team," Stokes said. Areas he's noticed players have improved include ball control, picking shots more carefully and making rebounds. "They've learned to do that pretty effectively."
The team heads north Saturday and will play Glenallen first, Monday at 5:10 p.m. "It'll be an interesting game," said Stokes.
Along with Metlakatla, Wrangell's is one of the eight teams competing in the State 2A Championships, which will feature a double-elimination bracket.
"Anything can happen," said Carney. "I'm excited."
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