By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka High senior Abby Forrester got the ball rolling and a cast of underclassmen kept it spinning as the Lady Wolves defeated the visiting Mt. Edgecumbe Lady Braves 37-27 at Wednesday’s Senior Appreciation Night basketball game in the SHS gym.
“In all honesty, it felt good but it just felt like another game,” Forrester said. “I played like I always do and it turned out just as I wanted. I’m so proud of us as a team, staying up and finishing like we can.”
Forrester hit the game’s first point on a free throw after she was honored along with senior teammates Joei Vidad, Shaye Jensen, Kyleigh McArthur and Jessica Davis prior to the tipoff.
Mt. Edgecumbe senior Catherine Sunny (Nightmute) buried a deep shot for a 3-1 advantage and added a free throw along with a single charity stripe shot from junior Maggie Miller (Nome) for a 5-1 lead.
Sitka freshman Chloe Morrison added her own single point with three minutes left in the quarter as both teams struggled to put together a consistent offensive threat.
After Lady Braves senior Brystel Charlie (Kwethluk) hit one of two free throws for a 6-2 lead, the Wolves went on a 5-0 run with Morrison earning a three-point play after being fouled inside on a made basket and Forrester hitting two more free throws.
Miller and Charlie closed out the quarter with free throws for an 8-7 Lady Braves lead.
Forrester and Sunny exchanged baskets for their sides in the first minutes of the second quarter.
Sitka sophomore Jocelyn Brady and Forrester hit back-to-back baskets for a 13-10 lead with 3:40 remaining and were answered by a free throw from Mt. Edgecumbe senior Tyra Brown (Chevak) and a short jumper from senior Leticia Skaflestad (Hoonah) with just over a minute remaining.
Both teams turned the ball over into the half tied at 13-13.
Sitka coach Sondra Lundvick said the game was emotional knowing it was the last time the seniors, who had grown up in her system, would play at home.
“A lot of emotion,” she said. “A tough start but we played really hard, and played better as a team. We are back on track.”
Neither team could get a shot to fall starting the third quarter, and had three turnovers apiece, until after a timeout by Sitka at the 4:32 mark when Forrester put down two free throws and Mt. Edgecumbe junior Vernae Ramoth (Ambler) scored inside for the Lady Braves’ last tie in the game at 15-15.
Forrester, Vidad, and Morrison then hit a string of free throws for a 20-15 lead. Charlie gave Mt. Edgecumbe a final basket in the stanza but Sitka’s Shaye Jensen rebounded her own miss and scored at the buzzer for a 22-17 advantage with one quarter remaining.
“We struggled to score and rebound,” MEHS coach Kathy Forrester said. “And we committed too many turnovers and too many fouls once again, which we cannot do because they are a great free-throw shooting team.”
The Lady Wolves’ Sunny hit the opening basket of the fourth quarter to close within three, 22-19, but the Lady Wolves’ Jensen notched a deep three to push it back to six and the Sitka press forced a turnover that put Morrison on the line for another single point, and Jensen added one herself for a 27-19 lead half way through the stanza.
Mt. Edgecubme’s Skaflestad hit a jumper to close to 27-21 but Sitka jr. Tiffany Elefante hit two free throws for a 29-21 lead.
The Lady Braves’ Sunny found the basket again and Skaflestad stole the ball and fed sophomore Autumn Beans for a score to trail 29-25.
Sitka would close the game on an 8-2 run that included a string of free throws from Elefante and freshman Tawny Smith.
“I’m OK with this loss,” Edgecumbe coach Forrester said. “Abby’s team deserved this win. They played better and kept their composure. The real challenge is during regionals.”
Prior to the game she had celebrated her daughter’s last time in an opposing uniform on the Sitka court; now she will face her again at the regional tournament that begins on Tuesday evening in Mt. Edgecumbe’s McGillis Gymnasium.
“I was all about honoring Abby, Joei, Jess, Shaye, and Kyleigh,” she said. “Those girls deserved the honor, like my seven team members deserved their honoring last Saturday. But once the ball is jumped it’s game on. I have confidence Abby will do her job to the best of her ability... and she knows and wants me to do my job to the best of my ability. I have an amazing daughter on and off the court.”
Forrester scored a game-high 12 points for Sitka, Elefante and Jensen 6 apiece, Morrison 5, Vidad 3, Smith and Brady 2 apiece, and Davis 1.
The Lady Wolves hit 22-31 from the line, the Lady Braves 8-17.
Sunny led Mt. Edgecumbe with 10 points, Skaflestad 6, Charlie 4, Beans, Ramoth, and Miller 2 each, and Brown 1. Lady Braves seniors Sanora Bell and Faith Kameroff were unavailable for the game but are expected to return for regionals.
Sitka seniors Joei Vidad, Shaye Jensen, Jessica Davis, Abby Forrester, and Kyleigh McArthur were honored before the start of Wednesday’s game against Mt. Edgecumbe at the SHS gym. (Sentinel Photo)
Sitka senior Abby Forrester is hugged by her mother, Mt. Edgecumbe coach Kathy Forrester before their game on Wednesday. (Sentinel Photo)
Sitka senior Joei Vidad (5) shoots over Mt. Edgecumbe senior Brystel Charlie (24) during the Lady Wolves 37-27 win over the Lady Braves on Wednesday. (Sentinel Photo)
Sitka senior Jessica Davis gifts a 12-pack of Diet Dr. Pepper to coach Sondra Lundvick. (Sentinel Photo)
Sitka High junior Baylee Person keeps the crowd energized during Wednesday’s game at SHS. (Sentinel Photo)
Sitka senior Kyleigh McArthur is presented with a gift bag from family members during Wednesday’s Lady Wolves senior appreciation night at the SHS gym.
Senior Shaye Jensen and family. (Sentinel Photo)
