Homecoming weekend counted a success

Homecoming weekend went well for the students at Wrangell High School, with girls basketball winning both their games against visiting Petersburg, and the boys getting a split after two hard-fought games.

For their last regular season games the Lady Wolves started the weekend with a real nail biter, taking things into overtime. Friday's game started off well enough with the team taking an early lead, which the Lady Vikings shaved down to three points by the half.

Petersburg propelled itself ahead with 21 points in the third period to Wrangell's eight for a 48-39 lead. But the Lady Wolves fought back in the final eight minutes, able to tie things back up at 62 in the closing seconds. The team's eventual 73-66 win came down to free throws and good defending.

Offensively, sophomore Maddy Harding scored 26 points, including making six of 10 attempted three-pointers. With 29 fouls made by Petersburg, Wrangell had plenty of opportunities at free throws, with junior Helen Decker making eight of them and sophomore Kaylyn Easterly completing five of six attempts.

During the boys' first game Friday, the Wolves and Vikings both struggled to come up with baskets in the first half, with Petersburg leading by only 11-6. Over the next two periods the Vikings were able to outscore their hosts, resulting in a 46-27 win over the Wolves.

Shifting games to an earlier Saturday schedule to accommodate events elsewhere, after the morning's junior varsity games the Lady Wolves returned in command of the court. After a closely run first period the team began building its lead over Petersburg, by the final period outscoring them 18-6. The girls won handily 62-38.

The boys also had a run of the board during their follow-up game Saturday afternoon. They held the lead from the start, opening with a three-point drop by Riley Blatchley. Leading 24-13 at the half, the Wolves went on to win 47-23.

Blatchley scored 24 points in all during the game, making nine free throws and half a dozen two-pointers. He had also led the previous evening, scoring 14 of his team's 27 points.

Both teams head next to Ketchikan for Region V this week.

In between Saturday evening's games Wrangell High School's homecoming court was coronated. Crowned this year's king and queen were Ian Jenson and Hannah Miethe. Accompanying the couple were princesses Erin Galla and Anna Allen, and princes Tymon Teat and Brian Schwartz. Underclass attendants to the procession were Riley Blatchley and Helen Decker for the juniors, Trevor Miller and Kaylyn Easterly for the sophomores, and Brett Abrahamson and Julia Miethe for the freshmen.

The weekend had been preceded by activities to boost school spirit, culminating in some shenanigans through the week and a pep rally early Friday afternoon.

"Everything seemed to go smoothly," activities director Trisa Rooney commented. Coaches, students, parents and staff had worked together to make it happen, wrapping up the last of the year's home weekends.

Principal Bill Schwan also unveiled the new score table, a light-up model emblazoned with the Wolves logo which now works for both high school and Stikine Middle School activities since the latter changed its mascot last fall.

"It really makes things easier," Schwan said of the change.

With the cougar logo now retired, the stuffed mascot in the middle school commons will be needing a new home. Schwan indicated a place at the museum might be appropriate. Its ultimate destination still needs to be worked out. When the specimen met its demise in 1989 it was reportedly the first-ever mountain lion shot in the state.