Amy Jensen tries to hook a shot against the alumni team during the first half of its Dec. 22 game against this year's Lady Wolves lineup.
While Wrangell's high school basketballers have been on the court for nearly a month, the teams' season officially begins Jan. 8 at their homecoming tournament.
Both the boys and girls squads have already been participating in some preseason tournaments, the latest being the girls' alumni matchup on Dec. 23. The Lady Wolves starting lineup faced off against the "Old Timers" – a collection of former players and coaches in town for the holidays.
"These are considered fundraisers actually, for the team," explained Lisa Nikodym, activities director for Wrangell Public School District and one of the alumni players.
The money raised through concessions, a silent auction and a halftime half-court shot competition will help to cover travel expenses for when an excess of 12 girls want to attend tournaments. The school program only covers travel for a maximum of a dozen players.
The alumni game is a chance to showcase the team as well, getting parents and friends revved up for the coming season.
"It's just a great time for the community to enjoy the school, and people coming back," said Nikodym.
Playing their elders, Wrangell's varsity team led in the first half of Quarter 1 before losing their lead. It remained a close game through the second and third quarters, keeping within four or five points of each other, but the alumni team came out ahead in the final quarter with a score of 44 to the students' 33.
Before last week's game, the girls also participated in the Little Norway Tournament in Petersburg the preceding weekend.
Wolves coach Edna Nore said the trip was a last-minute one, giving the team less than 24 hours to prepare.
The team lost its opening match against Petersburg 15-44 on Dec. 18, then played a close match against Cordova the next day, losing 31-39 after being outscored in the fourth quarter. The Lady Wolves finished off the tournament with one more loss, to Haines at 37-47.
Several Wrangell players were singled out for awards. Senior Amy Jensen was named to the All-Tournament Team, freshman Abby Armstrong won the overall free-throw competition, and senior Kyla Teat was awarded the Teammate Award.
"That was an honor for us to take home," Nore said of the latter. Teat was elected by participating coaches, who base their decision on sportsmanship and a positive presence on and off the court.
With three seniors playing this year, Nore said the team's players are working to familiarize themselves with each other ahead of the season's starter.
"We have a very new team," she explained.
Along with the boys' team, they have headed to Rally the Regions tournament in Anchorage, a preseason round-robin that will pit Wrangell's players against schools from around the state. The four-day tournament will be wrapping up this afternoon ahead of the new year.
Wrangell's boys have also been getting in some play time before homecoming weekend, attending the Holland America Tournament in Sitka Dec. 18. They will be holding their own alumni game this weekend, on Saturday.
"We've definitely hit the season off with a bang," said Nikodym.
"The only way you'll get better is to play as many games as you can," Nore commented.
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