Here is the final update on the regional basketball tournament that took place in Sitka.

2ABoys

The Metlakatla Chiefs are the 2A Region V champions. The Chiefs won the 2A  boys basketball tournament with a win over the Craig Panthers Friday afternoon, 53 – 46.

The Chiefs were led by senior Tory Shier with 13 points, and junior Drew Yliniemi with 12.

Junior Tristan Alexander also contributed 10 points to the championship effort, including back-to-back three-pointers in the second period.

Craig remained within striking distance the entire game, and even outscored the Chiefs 10 – 6 in the third period.

Junior Lincoln Isaacs led the Panther offense with 17 points, and shot 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Senior Karl Benolken scored 12.

Haines defeated the Wrangell Wolves 48 – 42 Friday morning to advance in the losers bracket. With their second loss, Wrangell is out of the running in this year’s tournament.

Wrangell came into the morning game with the Glacier Bears having just taken a heavy loss the previous evening to Craig. That first-round game got a late start, and didn’t end until almost 11 PM.

Still, Wrangell showed some serious mettle, and might even have pulled out a win if they had been more consistent from the free-throw line. Senior Blaine Wilson put in only two in eight opportunities. Ryan Reeves was 4-for-8.

Haines had three players in double-digits. Juniors Justin Swinton had 13 and Kai Franks 10. Senior Caullen Taylor also scored 13.

The loss puts the Wrangell Wolves out of the tournament. In losers’ bracket play  Saturday morning, Craig  beat Haines 71 – 62, and will go to Anchorage later this month as the number 2 seed in 2A.

 

2A Girls

The Craig Lady Panthers captured the Region V 2A crown in the girls tournament. Craig defeated Haines in a closely played contest, 43 – 37.

The Lady Glacier Bears fell behind early, as the Lady Panthers’ senior Raven Krolikowski alone put up 8 points in the first period, to the Lady Glacier Bears’ 4 total. She would score 16 for the game.

The slow first quarter proved costly, as Haines matched Craig point-for-point for the rest of the game.

In addition to Krolikowski, Craig sophomore Marie Yates went into double-figures, scoring ten for the game.

The Lady Glacier Bears had one player in double-digits. Senior Riley Erekson scored 13, including back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth period, and seven free-throws.

The Metlakatla Lady Chiefs defeated the Wrangell Lady Wolves in the losers bracket to win the chance to play for second. The score was 31 – 28.

Neither the Wrangell girls or boys were able to pull out a win in this year’s tournament, but Friday morning’s game against the Lady Chiefs was the closest contest for either team.

The Lady Wolves had a strong second half, and outscored Metlakatla in the fourth period behind a three-pointer by senior Alyssa Allen. Sophomore Darian Messier scored 11 for Wrangell, and may have a shot at an all-tournament team.

Metlakatla was strong from the field in their win, but might have opened up the game if their free-throw shooting had been stronger. The Lady Chiefs missed on 10 of 21 opportunities.

In losers’ bracket play for the #2 seed at state on Saturday, Metlakatla beat the Haines Lady Glacier Bears 55 – 47.

This year’s Region V 2A, 3A, 4A Tournament was played at Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka. Twenty teams from Southeast Alaska participated.