Boomchain Loucks inbounds the ball on Feb. 3 at home against the Craig Panthers. The Wolves went on to win the game 74-61, much in part to Loucks' 16-point outing in which he led Wrangell in second-half scoring.
The high school boys basketball team played four games over six days Feb. 3-8. They won the first two, both home games against Craig. They then lost the latter two, both away games at Ketchikan.
Notably, only the wins count toward the conference standings, as the much larger Ketchikan team competes in Division 4A while Wrangell is in Division 2A.
As things stand, Wrangell sits second in Southeast with an in-conference record of 6-2. They are second only to Metlakatla, whose unblemished 6-0 record keeps them atop Southeast Division 2A.
The Feb. 3-4 homestand against Craig was a perfect encapsulation of the Wolves season so far. The opening night showcased something that has happened quite frequently this year: Wrangell didn't play their best basketball, but they still managed to win the matchup. They won 74-61.
The following day, the Wolves delivered their best home performance of the season to date. Beating Craig 73-39, Wrangell's fast-paced, high-flying, "showtime" approach to offense paid off. They executed head coach Cody Angerman's high press to a T. Wrangell's 28-8 lead by the end of the first quarter meant that the matchup was over just minutes after it began.
Daniel Harrison, the team's main offensive engine, was thrilled with the homestand, citing the team's athleticism as a driving force in their success.
"I felt like we got some good open looks and guys really stepped up," he said. "We can outrun most teams, so we just have to utilize that."
While the double defeat in Ketchikan on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8. was far from a momentum builder, the exposure against a larger school with a more competitive varsity team was a good mid-season matchup for the Wolves. Senior guard Lucas Schneider reported that the games were a good learning opportunity for the Wolves.
On Feb. 7, the Wolves lost 41-71 before dropping their next matchup 36-68 on Feb. 8. Ketchikan won't be the last time Wrangell faces off against a much larger, out-of-conference opponent, though.
This weekend, the Wolves will play at Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka. While Mt. Edgecumbe is a Division 3A school, the Braves will still pose a challenge for the Wolves. Wrangell will certainly be looking to get back in the win column ahead of the Feb. 21-22 homecoming matches against Petersburg in the last homestand of the season.
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