By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Sitka High Wolves set the tone for Thursday night’s basketball games against Bethel here when Chloe Morrison scored on a lay-up six seconds after the first whistle.
The Lady Wolves went on to win 40-21, and the boys team beat the Bethel Warriors 57-17.
Meanwhile in Anchorage, the Mt. Edgecumbe Braves were on the court as well. The boys team fell to the formidable South Anchorage team, 47-63. The Lady Braves pulled out a win against Grace Christian, another strong team, 39-28.
“Everybody got to play tonight,” Lady Wolves coach Sondra Lundvick told the Sentinel. “It was a great team effort, and something to build on.”
She hopes to continue working on conditioning. “I’d love to be a run and gun team,” she said. “But we aren’t there.”
Sitka’s sole senior, Tiffany Elefante, scored 7 points, twice with assists from Tawny Smith, who scored 5 herself.
Makenna Smith made multiple steals, and scored a total of 5 points.
“I think it was a good effort,” coach Lundvick said, “the kids played hard.”
On the boys side, Sitka marked a one-sided win against the Warriors, but SHS coach Jarrett Hirai noted that many of Bethel’s best players are still participating in other sports.
Bethel’s bench was only three players deep.
“Being our first game, I wanted to see what kind of energy we would bring,” Hirai said.
Bethel’s Peter Crow (3) fouls Sitka High’s forward, Clay Pearson (33), Thursday at Sitka. The Wolves beat the Warriors in a blowout, 66-20. Sitka’s boys and girls teams both play again tonight, at Sitka against Valdez. (Sentinel photo)
Senior captain Gavin Flores led the pack, scoring 11 points. Through the course of the game, every other Sitka player scored as well.
Up in Anchorage, MEHS boys coach Archie Young told the Sentinel that “we ran into an athletic and disciplined team (South Anchorage)... they were just bigger and more athletic.”
The Braves lost 63-47 after some tough fighting.
“The boys played hard,” Young said “and had some good spots once we got over the early game jitters.”
Across town at Grace Christian, the Lady Braves came out on top, 39-28.
“We played pretty decent in the first half, but second half we came out really flat,” said coach Kathy Forrester.
Team captain Vernae Raymoth scored 18 points. Shayna Warnke-Green scored 11, despite the fact that this is her first season playing basketball. The Grace Christian game was her first ever high school game.
“She’s a true athlete,” coach Forrester said.
Edgecumbe put their full team on the court, according to their coach. “I was super happy that some bench players stepped up.”
The Braves play again tonight, as do the Wolves.
The local schedule is as follows.
TODAY, at Sitka
3 p.m. Bethel Boys v. Kendrick
4:30 p.m. Bethel Girls v. Kendrick
6 p.m. Sitka Boys v. Valdez
7:30 p.m. Sitka Girls v. Valdez
SATURDAY, at Sitka
2:30 p.m. Valdez Girls v. Bethel
4 p.m. Valdez Boys v. Bethel
5:30 p.m. Sitka Girls v. Kendrick
7 p.m. Sitka Boys v. Kendrick
So early in the season, these weekend games offer teams a chance to find their footing.
Lady Wolves coach Lundvick said “this weekend is about being able to bounce back and gain some conditioning.”
