Good named coach of the year; 3 players on all-state team

Hard work and dedication took the Wrangell High School girls basketball team all the way to the state championship game, and it earned recognition for the coach and honors for three players.

Head coach Christina Good was selected as the 2022 Division 2A Girls Coach of the Year by the Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Team, while players Kendra Meissner, Kiara Harrison and Jamie Early were selected for Division 2A first team honors. Meissner and Early, as seniors, were also selected for the all-star team, but Early cannot make it for the games in Anchorage.

Good said she was "humbled and shocked" when she received the news.

"All season long we've just been really focused on the theme 'play with a purpose,'" she said. "There are a lot of elements that go into coaching and having a significant year, but timing is everything. I've been blessed with a pool of talent. All the glory goes to God and these girls."

The team was the No. 1 seed going into the 2A Southeast championship tournament and won the title. They kept the top rank as they headed to state. They beat their first two opponents and lost to No. 2 seed Tikigaq on March 19. Meissner and Harrison were the top scorers for Wrangell in the final game.

"(Being picked for all-state and all-star) was definitely a big boost, especially after that tough loss," Early said. "Having that one more positive thing to add on the end of the season, and being a senior, it's always been a goal of mine to get onto the all-state team. It feels very accomplishing."

The last time the girls basketball team went to state was in 1985, when they made it all the way to the title game, losing to Haines. Good was at that game, only as a player.

"Although the head coach gets the award, it's really for the girls who put everything out there," Good said. "They made me look good! They made the plays and won the games."

Good also said the support from her assistant coaches Anna Allen and Kaelene Harrison, the parents, alumni and Wrangell community made the difference.

The Lady Wolves had an overall season record of 14 wins and three losses, and team members won all manner of awards for their play throughout the season.

"Southeast definitely represented - player of the year, coach of the year, all (first team) all-state - all from Southeast was cool," Meissner said. "Southeast was the toughest region for 2A basketball for this year. With Petersburg, us, Metlakatla, we definitely are the toughest teams out of the state, except for Tikigaq, obviously."

The all-star games are scheduled for April 15 and 16 in Anchorage. Good will help coach the games as coach of the year.

In addition to the three Wrangell players, this year's all-state 2A girls team is comprised of Ines Larson, of Petersburg, and Ryley Booth, of Metlakatla.