Wrangell nets more wins than losses in Petersburg homecoming weekend

It may have been Petersburg's homecoming weekend but two of Wrangell High School's basketball teams were the ones coming home with wins.

In two days of tough competition last Friday and Saturday, Wrangell's varsity girls and boys junior varsity teams beat the Vikings in two games each. The boys varsity team was beaten by the Vikings in their two games. The girls junior varsity team didn't travel.

Junior varsity

From the start, the JV boys faced tough competition from the Petersburg team. The two squads were equally matched and kept up the pressure on one another.

Friday's game was tight as each team took the lead throughout. Halfway through the third period, Petersburg took the lead, but Wrangell took it right back and added two more points at the buzzer. A series of free throws, a three-pointer and other buckets gave the Wolves an additional 14 points in the fourth period and the win, 46-38.

Petersburg was hungry for the win in Saturday's JV game, as it scored within seconds of the tipoff. Wrangell wouldn't score until just over two minutes into the game with a three-point basket to take the lead, but Petersburg took it back within 10 seconds.

The teams traded the lead throughout the first period, but Wrangell came out ahead, 10-8. The Wolves increased their lead, easily staying 10 points ahead of the Vikings throughout the second and third periods. It looked like the Wolves would take an easy win. But the Vikings refused to let it happen. Petersburg came surging back, closing the gap with a series of basket-and-foul combinations which tied the game 25-25 at the buzzer, sending it into overtime.

With four minutes on the clock, it was easily the most frenetic playing on the part of both teams. Wrangell took a one-point lead with a free throw, which Petersburg answered with a steal, a drive downcourt and a basket to take the lead. With 33 seconds left, Wrangell retook the lead. Petersburg still had a chance to win with possession of the ball, keeping tight control of it. With two seconds left, Wrangell blocked a pass, knocking the ball out of bounds. Petersburg threw it in, but a last-second scramble gave the ball to the Wolves at the buzzer. Wrangell won 29-27.

Varsity boys

It looked like Wrangell's varsity boys were going to make quick work of the Petersburg team on Friday, with Jacen Hay sinking a three-pointer for the first score of the game. Petersburg answered with back-to-back two-pointers, giving them the lead.

Both teams were strong on defense, making it difficult to score. Eventually, Wrangell took the lead, ending the first period ahead 13-11.

Though Wrangell started to pull ahead with scoring by Devlyn Campbell, Ethan Blatchley and Hay, Petersburg's Kyle Biggers, Kieran Cabral and Hunter Conn among others didn't make it easy. Biggers especially made it difficult for the Wolves to score at the post with his blocking. That didn't matter to Hay with a fade-away jump on the outside for another three-pointer. The second period ended 23-19 for Wrangell.

The game remained tight for the final two periods, keeping the two teams within a few points. Despite Wrangell leading for the first three periods, Petersburg found their footing and took advantage, capitalizing on two-pointers and free throws as both teams racked up the fouls. The Vikings retook the lead in the fourth period, increasing it to 18 points at one time. A series of failed shots from the Wolves kept them from catching up and Petersburg won 53-40.

Having had a chance to get a feel for their opponents, Saturday's game was more the same. Wrangell took an early lead in the first period despite Petersburg's hounding defense. Throughout the game, both teams traded leads, with Wrangell ahead in the first and third quarters. Petersburg led by five points in the second quarter.

With the game on the line in the fourth period, Wrangell struggled to find the hoop. Hay tied up the game with a three-pointer, 46-46, but that would be as close as Wrangell got. At the end, the Vikings had their second win over the Wolves, 56-51.

Varsity girls

With the exception of team captain Kiara Harrison's height of more than 6 feet, the Lady Wolves and Lady Vikings are fairly matched for their height. Petersburg's tallest player comes in at 5-foot-8, giving Wrangell a strong blocking and rebounding advantage. And they used it.

Harrison made the first basket in Friday's game, with Addy Andrews coming in low and fast for the second basket. Petersburg didn't get any points on the board until about halfway through the first period, with Harrison answering the shot with her own basket. The first period ended with Wrangell in the lead, 12-5.

A series of plays between Andrews and Harrison, who used their height, kept the Lady Vikings from getting close. Andrews would drive the ball, passing to Harrison from the outside. Then Andrews would weave through the defense to the post so Harrison could return the ball back to her for the shot. It was a strategy that paid off multiple times throughout both days. The second period ended with Wrangell miles ahead at 23-9.

"We just ask them to play specific roles," head coach Christina Good said. "We gave them a job and they got it done. It's confidence in every game. They build more and more."

Defense on the part of both teams kept the scoring to a minimum in the third period and Petersburg kept up the full-court pressure. Wrangell only added six points to the board, while Petersburg added four. The third period ended 29-13.

No one scored until just over halfway through the fourth period, with Harrison sinking a two-point basket then getting fouled and adding a point. Christina Johnson added three points from the outside. The Lady Wolves held Petersburg scoreless until the last 10 seconds of play when the Vikings made a two-point basket. Final score 39-15 for Wrangell.

There would be more of the same on Saturday, with both teams putting in maximum defense. It worked for much of the first period, with neither team scoring until freshman Shailyn Nelson made a basket at 4:20 into the game. Harrison would add two points, giving the Lady Wolves a 4-0 lead at the buzzer.

Once again, Nelson made the first basket in the period at nearly two minutes into the second period. It would be almost three minutes until Petersburg finally scored with a two-point shot. A series of shots and free throws from Harrison and a solid shot from Della Churchill gave Wrangell a 10-point lead. Petersburg wouldn't score again in the second period, which ended 14-2 for Wrangell.

The Lady Wolves surged ahead in the third period, adding six more points early on. Despite Wrangell's coverage, Petersburg was able to add 10 points during the period. With back-to-back three-pointers from Johnson, Wrangell added another 14 to their baskets. The third period ended 28-12.

In the fourth period, Wrangell continued to dominate in offense and defense, adding another 14 points. Petersburg was only able to add six, with the final two points coming at the buzzer and Wrangell winning 42-18.

"The second night, they all scored," Good said. "That was the goal. They all got in the books. Christina (Johnson), Shay (Nelson) and Miranda (Ridgeway), all three really stepped up."

This weekend, Wrangell's teams are scheduled to face off against Metlakatla in Wrangell.