By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The high school basketball season ended early over the weekend, with the Sitka Lady Wolves clinching the Region V title against Mt. Edgecumbe Lady Braves. On the boys side, Mt. Edgecumbe topped Sitka High following a tie-breaker, claiming the regional banner for themselves.
The State Championship, formerly scheduled for March 26-29 in Anchorage, is canceled out of concern about the COVID-19 virus.
Lady Wolves coach Sondra Lundvick praised her team for playing “really unselfish basketball. (The) kids just played hard. Our defensive pressure was the big difference.”
Sitka’s girls won two games against the Lady Braves, 45-30 on Thursday and 57-37 Friday, meaning that the Saturday tiebreaker game was not needed.
The Lady Wolves’ solo senior Tiffany Elefante led her team in points in both games. Elefante notched 18 points in the first game and 12 in the second.
Sophomore Chloe Morrison was right behind her older teammate, scoring 12 on Thursday and again Friday.
In Friday’s game, Jocelyn Brady and Tawny Smith were right behind, each scoring 9 points.
“This team peaked at the right time, and we were definitely ready to go to the state tournament,” Lundvick said in an interview.
However, she agreed that health and safety come first.
“Basketball is not bigger than life – I guess this is the most glaring example of that you could ever have. The most important thing right now is to concentrate on everyone’s family and health,” she said.
Sitka sophomore Tawny Smith dribbles out the clock under pressure by Mt. Edgecumbe sophomore Mia Anderson during the Wolves 45-30 win over the Lady Braves on Thursday at Juneau Douglas High School. (Sentinel photo by Klas Stolpe)
That said, she continued that “it’s bittersweet for Tiff (Elefante) to have to end on that note, but she can’t feel bad about it, for sure.”
Lundvick was appreciative of the Juneau School District and Region V for allowing the regional tourney to take place.
Regardless of not getting a trip to Anchorage, the Lady Wolves ended their season on a high note, finishing out with 11 consecutive victories, and no losses since January.
On the boys side of the court, the Wolves fought a close series of three games, but fell to the Braves in a Saturday tie-breaker.
Despite the loss, Wolves coach Jarrett Hirai said that “based on the last time we played at Edgecumbe, we were very composed, we knew exactly what we were trying to get and what we wanted, and the effort was definitely there.”
In the last cross-bridge rivalry match, March 4, the Braves won by a wide margin, 51-28.
The Lady Wolves pose with their medals after beating the Lady Braves, Friday, at Juneau-Douglas High School. From the left, Assistant Coach Kristi Brady, Marina Olney-Miller, Rean Famini, Kaleena Tucker, Tiffany Elefante (with plaque), Chloe Morrison, Tawny Smith, Coach Sondra Lundvick, Jocelyn Brady, Makenna Smith, Ava Brady, and Harlee Nelson. (Photo provided by Sondra Lundvick)
In contrast, Sitka High lost the first Region V game by only 4, then proceeded to win the second by 3, forcing a tie-breaker Saturday.
Edgecumbe won the final match by 11.
“Discipline was the word that they really focused on going in the Southeast tournament,” Hirai said.
He recalled telling his team in the locker room following their Friday victory that “you’ve earned the right to play the third night. And you’ve got to believe in it, you’ve got to trust it.”
He noted that in the games his players were “being confident, and trusting the system that I was providing for them.”
More stories about the Region V Tournament will appear in the Sentinel throughout the week, including perspectives from a variety of players as well as the Mt. Edgecumbe teams.
