By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Mt. Edgecumbe High boys needed every second of Tuesday night’s home game against bridge rival Sitka High to earn a 44-42 win in the B.J. McGillis Gymnasium.
“It was a fan friendly game with lots of excitement at the end,” Mt. Edgecumbe coach Archie Young said. “I imagine the atmosphere at Regions next week will be very similar.”
Senior Bear Brown (Anchorage) scored a basket in the key with 1:38 remaining in the fourth quarter for a 42-39 lead and added two free-throws 20 seconds later only to see Wolves senior CJ Taccad pull up from deep to bring the visitors within two points, 44-42, with over a minute remaining.
Mt. Edgecumbe senior Bear Brown shoots a free throw during the final seconds of the Braves 44-42 win over the visiting Sitka Wolves in a crowded B.J. McGillis Gymnasium on Tuesday night. The game was a preview of what can be expected at the Southeast Region V 2A/3A/4A Basketball Tournament that begins on Tuesday March 5 and runs through Saturday March 9 at the B.J. McGillis Gym. (Sentinel Photos by Klas Stolpe)
Sitka immediately pressed, forcing a turnover but missed a shot and Brown rebounded, missed his own shot on the other end, and then fouled Sitka junior Asa Demmert.
The Wolves couldn’t capitalize with straight misses and Brown was fouled on another rebound.
After a Mt. Edgecumbe time out, Brown received the inbounds and was fouled again, missed both free throws but rebounded the last and was fouled with 0.8 on the clock.
Again his charity shot went array and Sitka’s full court heave fell harmlessly to the court.
“We played the most complete game of our season and improved in a few areas we really needed to improve on,” Sitka coach Jarret Hirai said. “Our energy was great throughout the game and our composure in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter, was a positive moving into regions. We just ran out of time. Couple miscues on defense and key block outs and the game could have ended differently.”
Any missed shot on the court was seemingly touched by Sitka seniors Austin Morrison, Morgan Simic, Aedon Dumag, and CJ Taccad or Mt. Edgecumbe upperclassmen Brown, Emmett Dunaway (Dillingham), and Cyprian Johnson-Edwards (Emmonak), all of whom were honored before the game.
“Emmett was huge for us last night,” MEHS coach Young said. “He has really grown as a vocal leader on the floor and helping refocus his teammates. Bear had some good moments as well, and Cyprian always plays hard and brought us some good defensive energy.”
Sitka sophomore cheerleader Mia Skultka and Mt. Edgecumbe junior cheerleader Taya Warren, friends and rivals, pose before Tuesday’s bridge battle game between the Wolves and Braves. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)
The fourth quarter was knotted at 30-30 when the clock started and Brown earned a hard basket and a free throw for a 33-30 lead at the 6:57 mark.
Demmert answered for Sitka and teammate Morrison gave the Wolves a 34-33 advantage with 5:54 left.
The Braves misfired twice but Brown found the ball for the 35-34 lead with 5:10 left.
Sitka’s Mason Eubanks buried a deep shot to give the Wolves a 37-35 lead but Braves junior David Dock (Togiak) buried his own arch shot for a 38-37 lead change and Dunaway added a tough twisting shot in the key for a 40-37 advantage at the 2:48 mark.
Mt. Edgecumbe senior Emmett Dunaway (24) and Sitka senior
Austin Morrison (32) rebound. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)
Sitka’s Dumag took the inbounds pass and dribbled the length of the floor to score in traffic and close within one point, 40-39.
In between Brown’s last 4 points, Sitka had an opportunity to secure a missed free throw by Mt. Edgecumbe’s Dock but instead was whistled for a foul as Brown rebounded and put the final two Braves’ points on the board, one at a time, for the 44-39 lead. The Wolves Taccad then struck from deep for the final three points of Sitka’s night.
“From my standpoint the most pleasing thing to me was seeing my guys not happy with how they played,” Young said. “They won but yet they were unhappy with how they performed. That’s the sign we have been looking for. Now we can make the final push toward Regions and hopefully play better next week. It was good game experience for both teams.”
There was no clear advantage in the game.
Sitka held an 8-4 first quarter lead behind Demmert, Dumag, Morrison, and senior John Arce while Mt. Edgecumbe’s Dunaway and junior RJ Alstrom-Beans (St. Mary’s) hit lone free throws and junior Jeff Adams (Mentasta Lake) put back inside.
Dunaway came to life for the Braves in the second quarter, scoring 11 of their 17 points while Morrison scored 5 and Dumag a deep 3 for Sitka to stay within 5 points at the half, 21-16.
Morrison and Taccad closed the Wolves to 1 point, 21-20, starting the third quarter and Dumag tied the game on a free throw before the Braves’ Dunaway banked in a shot for 23-21.
Dock drew a key fourth foul on the Wolves’ Eubanks with 4:43 left in the stanza and on the possession change Dunaway scored again for a 25-21 Braves lead.
Morrison and Demmert answered to tie the game for the Wolves.
Brown was fouled and missed both at the line but Dunaway put in a rebound for a 27-25 lead with 1:53 left in the third.
Sitka’s Dumag drained a deep shot 20 seconds later to give the Wolves a 28-27 lead and Morrison again battled inside for a score with 26 seconds remaining for a 30-27 lead.
Mt. Edgecumbe’s Alstrom-Beans beat the buzzer from distant to knot the score at 30-30 with the final quarter remaining.
“The tournament environment next week will be similar and it didn’t rattle us as it has in the past,” Wolves coach Hirai said. “Great play from different guys today was a confidence booster for us moving forward. There will be tough games without a doubt. If we don’t play similar to what we did tonight it won’t give us a chance for the game to bounce our way.”
MEHS senior Cyprian Johnson-Edwards waves to his mother watching the live broadcast of Braves senior night at B.J. McGillis Gym, Tuesday. Johnson-Edwards was joined by friend Tatiana Journey (shown), sister Sherilyn Johnson-Edwards, and friend Charlee Korthuis. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)
Dunaway led Mt. Edgecumbe with a game-high 20 points, Brown added 13, Alstrom-Beans 6, Dock 3, and Adams 2.
The Braves were 10-23 from the line, the Wolves 2-5.
Morrison led Sitka with 15 points, Dumag 9, Demmert 8, Taccad 5, Eubanks 3 and Arce 2.
MEHS also honored senior managers Hayleigh Johansen (Dillingham) and Briana Clark (Dillingham) before the game and held a surprise presentation for the high school’s recently retired food service manager, and referee, John Wathen, who put in 30 years of service with MEHS.
Wathen was led onto the court to thunderous applause through a tunnel of MEHS students and fans and numerous photo-journalists.
At the other end was a huge sign held by school staff thanking him for “Over 32 years of EXCELLENT service.”
Mt. Edgecumbe’s recently retired food service’s manager, and referee, John Wathen is congratulated by MEHS staff before Tuesday’s basketball game at the B.J. McGillis Gymnasium. Wathen worked for the MEHS school for 32 years and has refereed games on both sides of the bridge. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)
Mt. Edgecumbe student Ian Chase-Ivanoff models numerous “John Wathen chef hats” that fans wore on Tuesday to honor the long time school food services manager. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)
