3A Roundup: Wolves stave off elimination, Haines tops Petersburg

Saturday’s 3A roundup

Wrangell holds off Craig

The Wolves found themselves facing elimination once again Saturday morning, and once again they staved it off by taking out Craig in a 55-50 battle for the right to face Sitka in the 3A boys’ loser’s bracket play-in game during the Region V 3A/4A Basketball Tournament.

Wrangell poured in 20 fourth-quarter points to break a tie after three quarters behind 10 points in the period by Eric James. James’ 20 points led all scorers in the game. Teammates Clayton Stokes and Alex Buness pitched in 17 and 10 points, respectively.

DJ Almenzor and Dylan Castle scored 14 points apiece, but the Panthers didn’t do themselves any favors from the charity stripe, connecting on just 14 of 27.

Haines withstands Petersburg rally

The Petersburg Vikings exploded for 22 fourth-quarter points in their elimination game against the Haines Glacier Bears, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the 21-point deficit they faced after three quarters as Haines earned itself a chance to advance to state in the play-in game with a 49-44 win on the 3A girls’ loser’s bracket of the Region V 3A/4A Basketball Tournament on Saturday at Juneau-Douglas High School.

Haines’ Abby Jones went off for 28 points in the game as teammate Hannah Wing pitched in 11 points of her own. Petersburg’s Carolyn Kvernvik scored 10 of her 14 points in the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough as Petersburg was eliminated from the tournament.

Friday’s 3A roundup

Petersburg rebounds, beats Metlakatla

After losing a fourth-quarter lead in a loss to Sitka the day before, the Petersburg girls’ basketball team bounced back Friday morning for a 53-38 win over Metlakatla in the girls’ 3A loser’s bracket of the Region V 3A/4A Basketball Tournament.

It was all Petersburg from the start as the Vikings outscored the Chiefs in each quarter and ended Metlakatla’s state tournament hopes.

Petersburg’s Carolyn Kvernvik led all scorers with 19 points, while teammates Shana Stewart and Hillary Scherrer pitched in 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Jennifer Caspersen was the only Chief in double figures.

Wrangell keeps state hopes alive

It was a difficult Friday morning for Petersburg basketball as the boys’ team also was eliminated from tournament play following a 63-51 overtime loss in the boys’ 3Aloser’s bracket of the Region V 3A/4A Basketball Tournament.

Wrangell blew the game open in the extra period, putting up 17 points in the extra five minutes. The Wolves didn’t score more than 13 points in any of the previous four, eight-minute quarters before exploding in overtime.

Alex Buness accounted for 10 of Wrangell’s 17 points after regulation, and the Wolves held Petersburg to just five points in the extra frame. Buness’ 21 points led all scorers and teammates Clayton Stokes and Patrick Howell contributed 19 and 11 points, respectively.

Four Vikings scored in double figures with Sam Volk and Guy Birchell accounting for 15 points apiece, while Cory Volk and Taylor Pullar scored 11 each for Petersburg.

Haines rolls Wrangell

The Haines girls’ basketball team used a staunch defensive effort in the third quarter to pull away for a 53-38 victory over Wrangell in 3A girls’ loser’s bracket action in the Region V 3A/4A Basketball Tournament.

The Glacier Bears outscored the Wolves 14-6 in the deciding third period and remained in control through the fourth to grab the win.

Haines’ Hannah Wing and Abby Jones led the team with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Loni Buness’ 14 points led Wrangell.

Craig cruises again

The Craig boys’ basketball team put its foot on the gas from the start of its elimination game against Haines and never let up in a 60-51 win in the 3A boys’ loser’s bracket of the Region V 3A/4A Basketball Tournament.

The Panthers outscored the Glacier Bears 17-6 in the first quarter and Haines was unable to make up any ground over the final three periods as the trio of Ryan Baxter, Dylan Castle and DJ Almenzor combined to score 44 of the team’s 60 points.

Haines’ Tyler Swinton once again led all scorers with 23 points, while Baxter, Almenzor and Castle scored 18, 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Devin Braaten was the only other Glacier Bear in double figures with 11 points.