By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Mt. Edgecumbe High School girls basketball team ran into one of the state’s hottest teams on the road at Ketchikan, and the 3A Lady Braves were unable to cool off the 4A Lady Kings, falling 55-31 on Friday and 64-36 Saturday.
“We played as I expected,” Mt. Edgecumbe coach Kathy Forrester said. “We played one good quarter each game, the first one. Then they were just tired from lack of conditioning from the last three-four weeks.”
Mt. Edgecumbe took an early 8-4 lead on Friday, getting first quarter points from sophomore Autumn Beans (St. Marys) from deep and junior Maggie Miller (Nome) and senior Faith Kameroff (Emmonak) from inside. Sr. Sanora Bell (Yakutat) added a free-throw.
Mt. Edgecumbe’s Maggie Miller (42) makes a shot against Ketchikan sophomore Dylan Borer on Saturday during a game at Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium in Ketchikan.(Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)
Ketchikan was limited to just four free throws from Ashley Huffine.
The Lady Kings exploded for 21 points in the second quarter, including five baskets from beyond the arch – of which three fell for Nadire Zhuta – and took a 25 - 15 lead into the half.
The Lady Kings hit for 15 points in each of the third and fourth quarters while the Lady Braves were held to seven and nine, respectively.
Kayhi’s Lianne Guevara scored seven points in each of the third and fourth stanzas as Mt. Edgecumbe keyed on closing out Zhuta by putting sr. Brystel Charlie (Kwethluk) on the standout scorer.
“I am thrilled that we have Brystel Charlie,” Forrester said. “We had to wait for her to get her state championship wrestling medal before she got to play with us. She is a huge asset and spark for us.”
While Charlie was key defensively, Bell led Mt. Edgecumbe with 10 points.
“She played well in spurts,” Forrester said of Bell. “She’s one of our best athletes. I’m trying to get her to understand she could dominate the game if she knew how good she is and how aggressive she could and should be.”
Sr. Catherine Sunny (Nightmute) added 5 points for Mt. Edgecumbe, Beans and Kameroff 4 apiece, Miller 3, and Charlie 2.
The Lady Braves hit 3-7 at the charity stripe, the Lady Kings 7-8.
Mt. Edgecumbe had two 3-point goals (Beans, Sunny), Ketchikan eight (Zhuta 4, Guevarra 2, Huffine).
Ketchikan was led by 18 points from Lianne Guevara, Huffine added 15, Zhuta 14, Janae Rhoads 4, Emmie Smith 3, and Dyllan Borer 1.
Mt. Edgecumbe had 6 team fouls, Ketchikan 8.
On Saturday Mt. Edgecumbe again took a first quarter advantage as Charley hit three baskets, Bell two and Miller one for a 12-2 lead heading into the second eight minutes of play.
The Lady Braves then went cold on offense and Ketchikan controlled the quarter behind 17 points from Huffine, including four shots from beyond the arch, and two more deep shots from Guevara and Shaelynn Mondora, for a 30-14 lead at the half.
The Lady Braves picked up their scoring in the third quarter with 12 points but gave up 20 to the Lady Kings who led 50-26 heading into the final stanza.
Mt. Edgecumbe was outscored 14-10 over the final eight minutes of play.
“We struggled defensively due to fatigue,” Forrester said. “But Ketchikan shot well from the outside.”
Bell again led Mt. Edgecumbe with 10 points, Charlie added 9, Sunny 7, Miller 6, Beans and Kameroff 2 apiece.
The Lady Braves hit just 5-12 at the charity stripe, The Lady Kings were 16-26.
Mt. Edgecumbe had one 3-point goal (Sunny), Ketchikan 8 (Huffine 4, Zhuta 2, Mondora, Guevara).
Ketchikan was led by Huffine’s 25 points, Mondora added 13, Guevara 9, Zhuta 6, Rhoads 5, Borer 4, and Smith 2.
Mt. Edgecumbe had 20 team fouls, Ketchikan 13. No one fouled out.
The Lady Braves will travel to the Barrow Invitational this weekend. Other teams include the host Lady Whalers, the Valdez Buccaneers, and the Anchorage Christian School Lions.
