Daily Sitka Sentinel

‘I’m Proud of Them:’ Basketball Wraps Up

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Sitka High Lady Wolves hit their peak at the right time, players said, snagging the Region V title, but missing their chance at State due to health concerns.
    The Sitka High girls team claimed the Region V title Friday. The Mt. Edgecumbe Braves claimed the boys title Saturday following a tie-breaker match.
    “We worked really well together as a team,” Sitka junior Jocelyn Brady concluded in an interview.
    Brady was one of three Lady Wolves to earn the All-Tournament accolade, along with her teammates, senior Tiffany Elefante and sophomore Chloe Morrison.
    For the Lady Braves, senior Vernae Ramoth and junior Autumn Beans won the honor as well.
    “I think we moved the ball really well, we’re all pretty selfless… (we) don’t care who’s scoring as long as we’re scoring,” Sitka sophomore Tawny Smith said. She echoed a sentiment expressed many times this season by her coach, Sondra Lundvick: the Lady Wolves play a selfless game of basketball.
    Sitka’s girls finished the season with 13 consecutive wins.
    “We worked hard together but it’s also just off court relationships too. We’re all pretty good friends with each other,” Brady said.
    She’s been on the Wolves’ varsity squad for three years, and over time she has improved “at movement on the court (and) with the team as well,” she said.
    This movement paid dividends in the regional tourney.
    “We ran the court really well.  There were a couple of moments where either one of us posts, me or Chloe (Morrison), we were able to run up the court (and score in a breakout play),” Brady said.
    The Lady Wolves’ 2020 team made a reputation for driving hard to the basket.
    Smith noted that her team plays a physical and high-tempo game.
    “Pretty physical, physicality is pretty much a main thing. We do well keeping the tempo right,” Smith said.
    The wildfire spread of COVID-19 canceled the planned State Tournament.
    “Its a bummer. I think everyone was excited,” Smith said.
    Both Smith and Brady emphasized that they will miss their team’s only senior: Tiffany Elefante.
    Smith said that Elefante “led us really well this year.”
    The Mt. Edgecumbe Lady Braves came a long way through the season, but not far enough to clinch a regional title.
    “We did a lot better at communicating, especially on defense. I think we did pretty good on defense,” Lady Braves senior Vernae Ramoth told the Sentinel.
    She noted that her team could have executed plays better.
    Of the tournament atmosphere, Ramoth said that “it was so great, it was really fun. It was super loud and just high intensity.”
    Ramoth was especially proud of her All-Tourney award.
    “It was a really big thing for me especially since last year was my first year with the Lady Braves.”
    The Lady Braves’ other All Tournament player was junior Autumn Beans.
    “At first, I was a little nervous, and then as we started playing I got used to it, I got my head in the game,” Beans said.
    Beans hoped that in the future, her team could “get used to playing with each other more quickly, and talking more on defense and offense. And getting more patient with the ball.”
    She concluded by looking forward:
    “We’ll have next year.”
    The Sentinel spoke with Edgecumbe players, and their coach Kathy Forrester, as the athletes returned their jerseys, Monday afternoon. Some were preparing to go home to rural Alaska, which at the time was a voluntary option available to students.

Region V All Tournament players pose for a shot following the Lady Wolves’ regional victory, Friday, in Juneau. From left, Sitka High’s Tiffany Elefante, Chloe Morrison, Jocelyn Brady, Mt. Edgecumbe’s Vernae Ramoth and Autumn Beans. The Lady Wolves will not travel to the state tourney, as health concerns have canceled it. (Photo provided by Kathy Forrester)

    Only hours after the interview, the governor announced that all schools in Alaska, including residential schools such as Mt. Edgecumbe, would close to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
    Coach Forrester herself was on the way to Ketchikan when she spoke with the newspaper.
    “We really played well. I feel like we didn’t have enough time to be where we needed to be because our team is young in playing ability,” Forrester said.
    Despite their Region V loss, Forrester was happy with her basketball team.
    “We had a great year. I just love these kids, and I am going to really miss the seniors. Their leadership was amazing.”
    She was particularly happy at the low number of turnovers in the second regional game. The Lady Braves have fought the turnover bug all season, but kept that number to only 12 in Friday’s game.
    “Never has that ever happened,” she said.
    Forrester praised the Lady Wolves as well.
    “They played well, and they deserved that win.”
    Forrester extended a special thanks to her other coaches, Margo Livermore, Monica Chase, Janet Schwartz, and Emily Jones, as well as Mt. Edgecumbe athletic staff members Andrew Friske and Lieudell Goldsberry.
    For the Lady Braves, Forrester said, the season highlight was the overtime rivalry game between her team and Sitka High, February 21.
    Sitka High won in a tight contest, 45-42.
    “That was pretty cool. It made us feel like we could compete with them.”
    Watching her players leave the gym one by one after turning in their gear, Forrester had one thing to say.
    “I’m proud of them.”