By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka High Lady Wolves finished their run in the Coastal Holiday Shootout with a 44-39 win over the Craig Lady Panthers on Saturday after falling to the Thunder Mountain Lady Falcons on Friday 44-38.
“We haven’t had the consistency that we would like, but are learning and growing,” Sitka coach Sondra Lundvick said. “There were a lot of bright spots and glimpses of how we want to play.”
Despite a deep three from senior Kyleigh McArthur and two inside baskets from classmate Jessica Davis the Wolves trailed the Panthers 11-9 after the first quarter on Saturday and Craig’s balanced attack put Sitka into a 22-16 deficit at the half despite five points from sr. Abby Forrester who returned from a finger injury for her first tournament action.
Sitka used a balanced team game in the third quarter getting baskets from Davis, Forrester, junior Tiffany Elefante, and freshmen Tawny Smith and Chloe Morrison and outscoring Craig 18-10 for a 34-32 advantage starting the final stanza.
Sitka freshman Tawny Smith has her shot contested by Thunder Mountain junior Tasi Fenumiai (30), junior Charlee Lewis (back), and sophomore Mary Khava Garcia (right) during the Coastal Holiday Shootout on Friday at Sitka High. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)
Sitka again found five players putting points in the scorebook in the final eight minutes and held off the Lady Panthers for the win.
Forrester and Davis led the Lady Wolves with 10 points apiece, McArthur, Elefante, Morrison, and Smith added 6 each.
Sitka hit just 7-24 at the charity stripe and Craig 4-16.
The Lady Panthers were led by 11 points from sr. Sarah Yates, sr. Ashley Hansen added 9, fr. Shay Johnson 6, sr. Johanna Allen-Skan 5, jr. Dayna Jo Johnson and fr. Savannah Bird 4 apiece.
“It’s still early,” Lundvick said. “We have a lot of work to do. I was really happy with how hard we fought to get control of that game.”
On Friday the Lady Wolves got off to a slow start against Thunder Mountain.
Sitka scored just four field goals in the first half and trailed 20-9.
McArthur hit one shot from long range in the first quarter and Davis added a put back, and sr. Joei Vidad and Davis found baskets in the second.
The Lady Falcons found a nitch of inside and outside work to score 10 points in each of the first three quarters of play, including a deep ball from their inside force, sr. Nina Fenumiai.
Thunder Mountain senior Nina Fenumiai moves the ball away from the hands of Jessica Davis (45) and Joei Vidad (5) during the Coastal Holiday Shootout on Friday at Sitka High. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)
Sitka sr. Shaye Jensen notched 8 points in the third quarter, including one shot from long range and Vidad had two steals and two baskets as the Lady Wolves closed to 30-23 starting the final eight minutes.
Davis went to work inside in the final stanza while the Lady Wolves roster rotated to control the area outside the lanes but TMHS matched their pressure full court and held on for a 44-38 win.
Davis led Sitka with 12 points, Jensen added 10, Vidad and McArthur 8 apiece. TMHS’ N. Fenumiai scored a game high 14, so. Neal Garcia 10, jr. Charlie Lewis 7, so. Khava Garcia 6, jr. Tzadi Hauck 5, and jr. Tasi Fenumiai 2.
Sitka hit 6-16 at the charity stripe, TMHS 7-15.
FRIDAY SCORES:
Craig overthrew Thunder Mountain 60-50 behind a tournament high 31 points from Lady Panthers senior Sarah Yates, so. Sara Burnham added 9, sr. J. Allen-Skan 8, sr. A. Hansen 7, and fr. S. Bird 2. TMHS was led by jr. Tzadi Hauck’s 13, sr. Nina Fenumiai added 9, jr. Tasi Fenumiai 6, so. Neal Garcia 3, Riley Traver and fr. Grace Sikes 2, so. Khava Garcia and so. Sydnee Sartain 1. Craig trailed 13-6 after eight minutes and led 22-21 at the half and 36-32 starting the final stanza.
SATURDAY SCORES:
SIT JV 54, TMHS JV 45.
Sitka led 10-7 after eight minutes, 27-19 at the half, and 35-30 starting the final stanza. SIT hit 16-26 at the line, TMHS 4-6. SIT scoring: C. Morrison 14, T. Smith 13, K. Lass 12, J. Brady 6, M. Smith 5, R. Famini 3, J. Molina 1. TMHS scoring: Hauck 16, Traxler 8, K. Garcia 6, Dilley 6, Lewis 4, Sikes 4, N. Garcia 1.
