Boys varsity team wins fourth place at state tournament

After three days of intense play, the Wrangell High School boys varsity basketball team won fourth place in the state Division 2A championship in Anchorage. It was the first time the team went to state since 2015.

The Wolves defeated Petersburg at regionals a week earlier to secure a second-place finish, giving them a spot at state. Petersburg was selected in a wild card draw after the loss to Wrangell, also giving them a spot at state last week. In the end, Wrangell finished higher up than the Vikings.

The Wolves started the tournament against No. 3 seed Tikigaq on Thursday. Both teams took a bit to warm up and the first points weren't put on the board until senior Devlyn Campbell was fouled and made one of two free throws. Tikigaq's Benjamin Lane immediately answered with a three-point basket.

In turn, senior Jacen Hay landed a three-pointer, followed by two points from sophomore Daniel Harrison. The scoring went back and forth, with the first period 21-16 for Tikigaq. The school is in Point Hope, on Alaska's North Slope.

Wrangell rebounded in the second period, taking a solid lead. The Wolves' defense held Tikigaq to only four points during the period, while Wrangell rallied, ahead 32-25 at the half. It seemed Wrangell had figured out their strategy to best the Harpooners.

But thanks to the speed and shooting accuracy of Tikigaq's Joelian Lane, the team was able to sail ahead of Wrangell, moving ahead at the end of the third period, 43-34.

Tikigaq scored first in the fourth period, using swift fakes and fast passes. Wrangell held on and made plenty of solid plays to begin closing the point gap, but it wasn't enough. Tikigaq won 64-51, sending the Wolves to the consolation round.

Wrangell on Friday faced the Cordova Wolverines, who had lost to No. 2 seed Metlakatla.

Cordova's Jaykob Thorne put the first points on the board, and it seemed at first the Wolverines would run away with the game, keeping Wrangell from scoring, stealing the ball and scoring again.

Wrangell's Kyan Stead quickly showed their opponents what the Wolves are made of by sinking a three-point basket, and Hay followed quickly with his own three-pointer. Team captain Ethan Blatchley made his own three-point play by landing a two-point basket, getting fouled and sinking a free throw. The first period ended with Cordova close behind, 13-10.

Both teams nailed three-pointers in the opening moments of the second period, with Thorne being a thorn in the side of the Wolves. Though Cordova kept up as much as they could, Wrangell led at the half, 31-24.

Wrangell pulled further ahead in the second half, with younger players adding to the board. Lucas Schneider scored one point with a free throw and Boomchain Loucks hit a three-point basket. The Wolves kept up the defense, speed and accuracy to defeat Cordova, 61-47.

The final day of play on Saturday had Wrangell pitted against the Unalakleet Wolfpack, who lost to Petersburg the first day of play but beat Hooper Bay on Friday to advance and meet Wrangell in the consolation round.

It took around nearly two minutes before either team could get points on the board, with Blatchley landing two points. Unalakleet's first point came from a free throw, which Stead rebounded and answered with a three-point bucket. The end of the first period was 9-5, Wrangell.

The second period began with a series of three-pointers from Harrison, which would dictate the rest of the game, as Wrangell outscored Unalakleet continuously. Campbell, Hay and Stead all added to the points, with Wrangell in the lead 33-17 at the halftime buzzer.

Try as they might, Unalakleet couldn't catch up to the Wolves, adding only six points in the third period, while Wrangell added 13. The period ended 46-23, Wrangell.

With a significant point spread in the fourth period, Wrangell's seniors were replaced on the hardwood with younger players, closing out their high school basketball careers. Fresh on their feet, throwing everything they had at the final opponent for the weekend, Wrangell's young squad gave a preview of the next few years of play.

Wrangell beat Unalakleet 60-31, winning fourth place at state. Unalakleet ended up in sixth. The small school is on the Bering Sea coast, southeast of Nome.

No. 1 seeded Ninilchik, from the Kenai Peninsula, went undefeated during state play, first beating Unalakleet, then Petersburg and finally Tikigaq to take the 2A state championship. Tikigaq placed second, Metlakatla third and Petersburg fifth.