By Sentinel Staff
The Mt. Edgecumbe High Braves beat the Sitka Wolves in Wednesday night’s rivalry game, but Edgecumbe players say they hope to keep improving into the late season.
“Work harder,” said Braves’ RJ Alstrom-Beans. “We know Sitka is going to work hard after they lost to us, so we just got to keep working harder- harder than them.”
Alstrom-Beans was Edgecumbe’s leading scorer in the game, owning the scoreboard with a total of 25 points during Edgecumbe’s 62-53 win.
Braves’ player Jonathan Constantine said the win “definitely feels good.”
Sitka High won the first rivalry basketball match of the season back in January by a single point in over time, 45-44.
In spite of his team’s Wednesday win, Constantine agreed with Alstrom-Beans, saying that “we just have to keep improving every game, become a better team every game.”
Sitka High’s Jemar Diga drives for the basket during the rivalry match between
the Wolves and Braves, Wednesday, at Sitka High. (Sentinel photo)
Edgecumbe’s Drew Jackson said “we were a whole lot more confident with the ball, a lot more confident with our shots and everything. Because we were definitely scared in our first game. We weren’t ready to play the first game. We were definitely ready to play last night (Wednesday).”
“As the season progressed we’ve all learned how to mesh and play with each other a lot better,” Jackson said.
On the Sitka side, players emphasized hard work, as well as ensuring that player match-ups in game improved.
“We played hard for sure,” Wolves senior Gavin Flores said.
“Definitely some things we have to fix... we have to match up better,” he added.
On the positive side, Sitka’s Liam Miller said “I think our offense was really clicking.”
Looking forward to the Region V match up March 12-14 in Juneau, Wolves’ Clay Pearson said “I honestly don’t have a doubt in my mind we’re going to come to Regions ready to work.”
“It’s honestly the best experience in high school,” he said of the regional tournament.
Pearson said he hoped to play as “hard as you can always. Last thing you want to do is look back at a game and think, man, why didn’t I go as hard as I could.’”
Before the Region V tourney, the Lady Wolves and Lady Braves play tonight, at Sitka. The schedule is below.
Today at SHS
5:30 p.m. Girls JV Sitka vs. MEHS
7 p.m. Girls Varsity Sitka vs. MEHS
The boys teams face off again one more time before regions, March 4 at Mt. Edgecumbe High.
