Lady Wolves junior Chloe Morrison lines up a shot against Juneau-Douglas during their game at Sitka High, Feb. 4. Sitka and Juneau play again this coming Friday and Saturday, also at Sitka High. (Sentinel photo)
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
With tough games against Southeast powerhouse Juneau-Douglas around the corner, the Sitka High Lady Wolves felled the Mt. Edgecumbe Lady Braves 49-22 Tuesday in their second match of the season, at Mt. Edgecumbe High.
While the game ended with a disparate score, the match remained tight into the third quarter. Sitka was up by 10 at the half, but a burst from Edgecumbe pushed the game within 2 points in the opening minutes of the third.
But a strong return salvo from the Lady Wolves’ Jocelyn Brady, Tawny Smith and Makenna Smith pushed Sitka to a strong 37-21 lead by the quarter’s close.
It was Sitka’s second win over their Region V 3A rivals the Lady Braves this season. The Lady Wolves marked their first win on Feb. 2, toppling Edgecumbe 49-22.
Despite the consecutive victories, Lady Wolves coach Mindy Bartolaba told the Sentinel that her team needs to take Edgecumbe seriously, especially given the tight play during the early and mid-game.
“It was neck and neck there for a little bit, there was only a 10 point difference at the half and then they got it within (2) at the third. So that’s three quarters of close basketball,” Bartolaba said. “We still need to take every competitor seriously, like Edgecumbe. They put up a good fight tonight that’s for sure.”
Looking back on her team’s performance, Sitka senior Jocelyn Brady said good game play stems from good cohesion.
“We’re getting more united, playing better together,” Brady said after the game.
Lady Wolves senior Makenna Smith agreed, telling the Sentinel that her team functions as a unit, rather than as a collection of individuals.
“We’re definitely playing together, no one person is trying to go off or something like that. No one is playing selfishly,” Smith said.
Faced with the Lady Braves’ press, Brady stressed the need to focus on the details in order to break through.
“It’s all about keeping composure and trying to focus on the little things, because the little things are what break the press, and then we can break through it and keep playing,” Brady said.
Bartolaba noted that her team has faced a number of hard presses this season.
“They did a nice job. They’ve been pressed all season by every team, so they’ve kind of got it down as far as what they need to do… It’s what they’re used to,” the coach said.
Sitka High’s solid team dynamics and composure allowed the team to punch through Edgecumbe’s press and often score from the inside. Brady, a one-player powerhouse, led the Wolves’ scoreboard with 22 points, followed by Tawny Smith with 11 and Makenna Smith with 6.
Looking back, Sitka’s coach was happy with how her team played.
“The kids did such a good job staying focused even though there were times when the game looked a bit iffy. My kids stayed nice and focused, level headed,” Bartolaba said. “Tawny (Smith) did a great job just keeping the team rolling as point guard. Joc (Brady) stayed steady as well. So I was really proud of them collectively, as a team sticking with it collectively.”
Across the court, Lady Braves coach Kathy Forrester seconded this, saying that she’s proud of her team and the improvements they’ve made.
“I’m super proud of them. I feel like we’re moving in the right direction and that’s a bonus for all of us. Nobody’s ever happy losing but they’re kind and motivating to each other,” Forrester said.
Mt. Edgecumbe senior Cameryn Olson, of Golovin, agreed, saying that the young team has gone a long way toward building trust.
“We definitely are building our chemistry up with each other a lot. We’re trusting each other a lot more with the ball. I think if we just keep it going together and keep it together as a team we can put up a game,” Olson said.
With games against Juneau imminent, Lady Braves’ junior Lisa Strom said that if her team can play for an entire game as they played in the first quarter on Tuesday, they have a chance.
“If we come out with the intensity and the hard work and the patience we had in the first quarter of the game today, I think we can have a pretty close game with Juneau,” Strom said.
Strom and Olson led their team’s scoreboard in the game, with 7 and 6 points respectively.
Their coach noted that the big difference in the early game was the team’s stout defense.
“Our defense, we’re slowing it down on offense and playing good help defense,” Forrester said.
But the coach added that fatigue and conditioning played a role in wearing her players down over time.
“Compared to our last games… in the first quarter we played really good help defense, we were slower, more relaxed on our offense. But when we start getting tired we start making mistakes. I have to start subbing people in, younger folks,” the coach said. She added that the same fatigue leads players to make unsafe passes, causing turnovers.
Thinking of the upcoming games, Strom added that if the Lady Braves work well together, they will also have a better shot at breaking through Juneau-Douglas’ formidable press.
“Sometimes when we’re taking the ball out we’re worried about getting it past half court – all the people like our guards need to come and help,” Strom said. “We could break presses if we just slow it down and have each others’ backs.”
Also speaking about breaking a press, Olson hoped her team would make safe passes and protect the ball.
“Taking care of the ball, making stronger passes, not throwing the ball away when you get scared. A lot of it had to do with getting intimidated,” Olson said.
The senior expressed confidence in her team’s ability to improve.
“If we keep practicing and going the direction that we’re going we will get there,” she said.
As long as Edgecumbe’s team continues its trajectory, particularly in regard to team dynamics, the coach said they will sort things out.
“Absolutely, if we can just keep that going straight and forward we’ll be fine,” Forrester said.
The Lady Braves face Juneau-Douglas this evening and again on Thursday.
