Daily Sitka Sentinel

Sitka High Team Has Hot Start to Tourney

By TOM HESSE

Sentinel Staff Writer

The Sitka High boys basketball team racked up another 11 assists this season as they helped nearly a dozen people evacuate a burning six-plex in Anchorage this morning. 

The Wolves are in Anchorage for the state basketball tournament, and head coach Andy Lee told the Sentinel the team noticed the fire while driving through the Spenard area of Anchorage on their way to eat breakfast. 

“Essentially we were driving to breakfast and one of the kids noticed a fire out of the corner of their eye and I checked it out and it looked like more than a grill. By the time we got turned around we realized the fire was fully involved,” Lee said.

A six-plex burns in the Spenard area of Anchorage this morning. The Sitka High boys basketball team, which is in Anchorage for the state basketball tournament, helped nearly a dozen people evacuate the building. (Photo by Coach Andy Lee)

“Nobody was responding so I had one guy call 911 and the other guys surrounded the perimeter of the building and started beating on windows and doors and I went inside to look around for anyone inside.” 

The Alaska Dispatch News reported that the fire started at around 10:47 a.m. at 3608 Taft St. The building is located in a neighborhood near the Anchorage airport. 

Lee said 11 people were in the three-story building at the time of the blaze. 

“Flames were coming out the back and front. Every kid responded,” Lee said. “They were helping people get out and getting people across the street to safety because some of the residents were in shock and were just kind of standing around. It was quite the response. They did everything they were supposed to do. From calling 9/11 to beating on the windows. I was very impressed.” 

Fire officials told the Alaska Dispatch that the blaze started on an upper balcony and did not trigger smoke alarms inside. No injuries were reported although 18 people have been displaced because of the damage to the building. 

Lee said he’s proud of how the players handled the impromptu team exercise. 

“It was quite the adrenaline rush,” Lee said. “I don’t have any words. It was amazing and I’m proud of my guys.” 

Sitka High basketball players, from left, Steven Schmitt, Tristan Duncan, Oliver Moore-Baker, a six-plex resident, Coach Andy Lee, Tevan Bayne and Andy Rule. (Photo provided by Andy Lee)

The team members were on their way to practice this afternoon as they prepare for the first round of the 3A State Basketball Tournament. Sitka High takes on Grace Christian School Thursday, at 9 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Sitka is the sixth seed in the field of eight. Grace Christian is seeded third in the tournament. If Sitka wins they will play the winner of the Barrow/Nikiski matchup on Friday at 9 p.m. Barrow is the tournament’s top seed and defending champion from a year ago. 

The Wolves made it to the state tournament after winning their third straight Region V title March 11. Seniors Braden Case, Messiah Vidad, Trevan Coleman, and Tevin Bayne were on Sitka’s Region Champion roster along with juniors Marjo Vidad, Oliver Moore-Baker, Jesse Lantiegne and Andy Rule. Sophomores Steven Schmitt and Tristan Duncan rounded out the roster with freshman CJ Taccad.