Wrangell’s high school basketball boys won one and lost one in a match-up at Haines last weekend.
The boys played a pair of close games against the Glacier Bears. In Friday’s game, the Wolves followed just behind through much of the first half, with Haines up by two at the start of the second quarter. By halftime Wrangell had eked out a 22-21 lead after a seven-point quarter from Trent Stokes and points contributed by Tyman Teat, Jacob Hammer and Sam Prysunka.
Riley Blatchley dominated the court offensively for the next 16 minutes, securing 14 of the team’s 30 points during the half. Haines remained right behind, with its own Dylan Swinton collecting 18 points in the fourth quarter alone. By the final buzzer’s sounding, the Wolves maintained its tight 52-49 lead.
The next game was a reversal of the previous evening, with Wrangell opening up with a 18-10 lead in the first, and was ahead 28-17 by the half. Haines about matched the Wolves for two- and three-pointers through the next half, but benefitted from a slew of fouls as the game wore on. Swinton downed 13 for 15 free throws in the fourth quarter, and scored 17 of them for his team through the game.
The Glacier Bears won 48-41, with 21 of its points coming from FTs. Though Wrangell’s offense outplayed them – with only seven of its points picked up due to fouls – the team came up short as a result.
Stokes noted the team gave up a number of turnovers as well, and lost composure as the game progressed.
“I felt like we didn’t play as good as we could have,” he said. The fouls in particular weighed on the team. “It kind of bothered them a little bit. Hopefully, it’s a learned experience.”
Prior to the Haines games, the team was able to play Ketchikan and Juneau-Douglas on February 15 and 16, winning both games by at least 25 points. The teams fielded their secondary squads, so for Wrangell the non-conference play was a chance to try some new plays and regroup itself before Region V next month.
After a bye this weekend, the Wolves head next to Petersburg on March 3 and 4, for the Vikings’ homecoming games. Yet undefeated this season, Stokes noted they will be the team to beat this year.
“Our hands are full. They’re definitely a good team and very competitive,” he said. “If we play the best we can play, I think it’ll be an interesting weekend.”
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