By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Sitka High Wolves varsity boys graduated five players from last season’s team that posted a 5 win, 19 loss season and went 0-5 against conference, and bridge-rival, Mt. Edgecumbe, but they return seven players to the varsity team that can be an up-tempo dynamo or one that plays with precision.
“First off, I’m familiar with them,” first-year head coach Jarrett Hirai said. “I had them all in middle school. I have seen them grow and develop.”
The Wolves will be a guard-oriented team but will be able to go inside.
“We should be fast,” Hirai said. “But the key is to be fast and smart at the same time.”
Sitka’s first test is the 4A Thunder Mountain Falcons this weekend in the Wolves den.
“I’m excited to see our guys on the floor,” Hirai said. “I’m excited for what each one of them can bring to our team this season.”
The Sitka High boys basketball team poses on the court during practice Monday. Pictured are, front row from left, Gavin Flores, Asa Demmert, C.J. Taccad, Morgan Simic and Aedon Dumag. Back, from left, are John Arce, Mason Martin, Garrison Lass, Liam Miller and Austin Morrison. (Sentinel Photo)
Wolves varsity returners are senior forwards John Arce and Morgan Simic, senior guards Aedon Dumag, and CJ Taccad, junior guards Asa Demmert and Gavin Flores, and junior forward Mason Eubanks.
Flores logged the most minutes and brings the energy the Wolves will expect from each player. Taccad also started and is a savvy ball handler. Aedon and Demmert will aid in the backcourt and Simic, Arne and Eubanks have athletic experience inside.
Senior Garrison Lass and the addition of transfer student Liam Miller from Fairbanks’ Lathrop High School will add some additional size. Lass has the ability to change shots defensively and is a left-handed shooter, which usually amounts to a tough defensive assignment for opponents at the high school level.
“I want my team to not always be one speed,” Hirai said. “I want them to be able to slow down or speed up when we can, that will obviously depend on who we play.”
The Wolves DNA has always been intensity.
They can change the tempo of the game and create mis-matches offensively and will changed defenses to keep opponents off-balance.
The Sitka boys basketball program includes senior Austin Morrison; juniors Rheece Heim, Joel Arce, Miles Magee, Dom Baciocco, Jay Roy, Kyler Brenton, Mohan Proveen, Liam Miller and Max Johnson; sophomores Makai Saline, Ryan Bartlett, Jemar Diga, Sean Schmidt, Carson Grant, Joe Harris, Akira Handy, Keaton Koelling, Eman Barragan, and Trevin Carley; and freshmen Clay Pearson, Shane Webb, Josh Antolin, Wes Urias, Nik Calhoun, Stephen Harmon, Justine Agullana, and Gaige Rosas. Assistant coaches are Scott Jones and Syd Eubanks.
The Wolves will host the Dec. 20-22 Coastal Holiday Shootout that features the 2A Craig Panthers, 3A Delta Junction Huskies, and 2A Bristol Bay.
“I’m also looking forward to going to the Palmer Tournament (Jan. 17-19) and the Homer Tournament (Feb. 7-9),” Hirai said. “And we’re looking forward to our first games this weekend. If we do what we’re supposed to do, learn how to play together, if we do that we will go far.”
The Wolves will also have games against the 4A Service Cougars, 4A Lathrop Malemues, 4A Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears and 2A Petersburg Vikings. All are key to achieving a strong ranking in the state as the Alaska School Activities Association has adopted a strength of schedule format that includes all common opponents of teams played.
This helps a conference like Southeast Region V when just two 3A teams, Sitka and conference rival Mt. Edgecumbe, are playing for one spot in the state tournament. Last season ASAA used only same-classification schools for that at-large bid.
“We will be preparing for each series each week,” Hirai said. “It’s one game at a time. My expectations are to help prepare this group of guys to get better each week, to try and compete and fight for the full 32 minutes. I’m excited for each game that we have on our schedule and looking forward to a fun and enjoyable season.”
The Wolves will host Thunder Mountain at 7 p.m. Friday (JV 4 p.m., C 1 p.m.) and 4 p.m. Saturday (JV 2:30 p.m., C 1 p.m.).
