C Bracket champions Filcom pose with their trophy. (left to right) Charlie Herrington, Alex Heumann, Tom Gizler, Adam Brown, Mike Lim, Andrew Malacas, Nino Bohulano, Ray Zimmer, Larry Cooper, Ronin Tagsip and Jason Haskell at the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

C Bracket champions Filcom pose with their trophy. (left to right) Charlie Herrington, Alex Heumann, Tom Gizler, Adam Brown, Mike Lim, Andrew Malacas, Nino Bohulano, Ray Zimmer, Larry Cooper, Ronin Tagsip and Jason Haskell at the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s Filcom wins Gold Medal C Bracket Championship

Filcom caps undefeated tournament run with 73-49 win over Klukwan

The Juneau Empire’s expanded coverage of the Juneau Lions Club 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament is made possible by Sealaska Corp. Thanks to this sponsorship, this article —and all of this year’s Gold Medal coverage — is available online without a subscription to the Empire.

Juneau Filcom’s Alex Heumann is known as a scoring machine but he built up his defensive prowess in the C Bracket Championship Game, Saturday, March 25, during the Juneau Lions Club’s 74th annual tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé.

Heumann collected a game-high 29 points in a 73-49 win over the Klukwan Chilkats and had the task of guarding Klukwan scoring threat Stuart Dewitt.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 
Klukwan’s Stuart Dewitt (40) shoots under pressure from Filcom’s Ray Zimmer (0) and Alex Heumann (24) during the C Bracket Championship at the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Klukwan’s Stuart Dewitt (40) shoots under pressure from Filcom’s Ray Zimmer (0) and Alex Heumann (24) during the C Bracket Championship at the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

“I have been waiting my whole life for one of these,” Heumann said of the championship as emotion overcame him. “I get to win one with my brothers… I had a couple family members watching this one from above… John Martin senior…”

Emotions ran high for both teams as Filcom began the game with steals for baskets by Larry Cooper and Adam Brown and an old-fashioned 3-point play by Heumann for a 7-0 lead.

Klukwan followed with an 11-0 run with back-to-back-to back shots past the arch by Dewitt and a follow up shot by Brian Friske for an 11-9 lead.

Filcom’s Cooper drove for a score and Heumann notched a deep shot, a short jumper and then a running floater that kissed the net as the buzzer blew for a 16-11 first quarter advantage that would never be relinquished.

Filcom’s Larry Cooper (10) gets past Klukwan’s Bryan Combs (22) during the C Bracket Championship at the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Filcom’s Larry Cooper (10) gets past Klukwan’s Bryan Combs (22) during the C Bracket Championship at the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Filcom built their lead to 10 points, 32-22, midway through the second quarter as Klukwan struggled to connect from the field while Heumann and Cooper benefited from the board work of Adam Brown, Jason Haskell, Tom Gisler, Andrew Malacas and Charlie Herrington through the first half.

Filcom ended the second quarter on a 6-1 run for a 38-23 advantage at the half.

“I just love to be here,” Adam Brown said after the game. “I love to play basketball. I love the opportunity to get out here in the Gold Medal. I am just really honored with this privilege.”

Filcom went on a 12-2 run in the first three minutes of the third quarter and led 50-25. They finished the third quarter with a floater by Heumann, back-to-back shots by Herrington inside and two more baskets from Heumann to put 63 points on their side of the score clock.

Klukwan finished the third quarter with a shot by Paul Carrington, a shot by Dewitt and a deep shot by Jesse McGraw off the glass to put 33 on their side.

Filcom’s Ray Zimmer (0) blocks a shot from Klukwan’s Jess McGraw in the first half of the Juneau Lions Club 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament C Bracket Championship Game Saturday in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s gymnasium. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Filcom’s Ray Zimmer (0) blocks a shot from Klukwan’s Jess McGraw in the first half of the Juneau Lions Club 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament C Bracket Championship Game Saturday in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s gymnasium. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

“Terrible,” Klukwan’s Dewitt said after the game. “It was fun to play on Saturday, for sure that’s a good thing, but we were a little tired. Our defense was poor. They were good. Their pick-and-roll stuff they ran really well and they are just tough. Alex (Heumann) played great defense on me. He was like on me all night. He was working just as hard on defense as he was on offense. That was impressive for him to have the offensive output like that when he is working his butt off on defense. Hats off to him, to all of them, they played great team basketball.”

Filcom and Klukwan would exchange baskets and flirt with keeping a running clock via the 30-point advantage in the final stanza.

“Oh man, this is big town for us,” Filcom’s Cooper said after the game. “Just an honor to be here to play in this tournament. I’m very grateful for that and very thankful to be able to play with my brother Alex Heumann. To come out to battle with him is a beautiful thing. It’s a beautiful thing. We appreciate it.”

Klukwan’s Bryan Combs is fouled by Filcom’s Adam Brown during the C Bracket Championship game of the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Klukwan’s Bryan Combs is fouled by Filcom’s Adam Brown during the C Bracket Championship game of the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Heumann said the duo of he and Cooper have been together always. With Cooper the point guard at Juneau-Douglas High School in 2004-05 and Heumann the shooter and “our brother Junior Cumlat representing the Filipino community.”

Heumann was awarded the most valuable player trophy after the game.

“I feel like these guys made me look good all tournament,” Heumann said. “I’ve been playing with Coop (Larry Cooper) my whole life. It means the world to me to win one with my brother, but the rest of the guys on this team we came together over the last couple of weeks and I couldn’t appreciate them more. This was a team effort from the jump.”

Filcom’s Alex Heumann (24) scores past Klukwan’s Paul Carrington (3) and Brian Friske (32) during the C Bracket Championship game of the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Filcom’s Alex Heumann (24) scores past Klukwan’s Paul Carrington (3) and Brian Friske (32) during the C Bracket Championship game of the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Heumann led Filcom with 29 points, including a fourth quarter where he did not score but facilitated the offense. Haskell added 12 points for Filcom, Cooper and Herrington 11 apiece, Ray Zimmer and Adam Brown four apiece, and Gisler two.

Filcom hit 6-9 at the free throw line, Klukwan 4-7.

Dewitt and Friske scored 17 points apiece, McGraw seven, Kent Larson and Jeffrey Klanot three apiece, and Carrington two. Andrew Friske, who was inducted in the Gold Medal Hall of Fame this year, was unavailable for the game.

The C Bracket All-Tournament team included Larry Cooper (Filcom), Brian Friske (Klukwan), John Crossman Jr. (Angoon), Braxton Booze (Hoonah), Jesse McGraw (Klukwan), Lucas Johnson (Hoonah), Stuart Dewitt (Klukwan) and special awards to go with their all-tourney nods went to Thomas Hughes (Hoonah) for Sportsmanship and Alex Hermann (Filcom) as the Most Valuable Player.

This is Juneau’s 34th Gold Medal Championship, they last won the C Bracket in 2003, the B Bracket in 2004, the A Bracket in 2005, the Women’s Bracket in 2007 and the Masters Bracket in 2009.

Klukwan (8 titles) last won the C Bracket in 2018, the Masters Bracket in 2014, and the A Bracket in 1967.

Klukwan’s Jeffrey Klanot (42) and Stuart Dewitt (40) during the C Bracket Championship game of the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Klukwan’s Jeffrey Klanot (42) and Stuart Dewitt (40) during the C Bracket Championship game of the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Saturday, March 25, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of April 6

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Members of the Alaska State Employees Association and AFSCME Local 52 holds a protest at the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
State employee salaries fall short of levels intended to be competitive, long-delayed study finds

31 of 36 occupation groups are 85%-98% of target level; 21 of 36 are below public/private sector average.

A Juneau School District maintenance supervisor examines the ceiling at Riverbend Elementary School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. The school, since renamed Kax̲dig̲oowu Héen Elementary School, has experienced roof problems since its construction, according to district officials. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau’s school board approves project lists for proposed voter bond at $5M, $10M and $15M levels

Roof, heating, ventilation and security prioritized as Assembly considers bond items for fall election.

President Donald Trump announced yet another abrupt change in economic policy on Wednesday. (Eric Lee / The New York Times)
Trump backs down by reducing many reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, but hikes China’s to 125%

Universal 10% levy remains for other countries; change comes after tailspin in global markets.

Debris from a home that partially fell into the Mendenhall River due to a record glacial outburst flood remains on the riverbank on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Trump executive order seeks to block states and municipalities from enforcing their climate policies

Order could affect everything from recently enacted state carbon laws to Juneau’s renewable energy goals.

The Red Chris Mine, a gold and copper mine, seen several years ago after it began to operate in late 2014. (Garth Lenz / Salmon State)
Report cites growing environmental risks at Red Chris Mine in Stikine watershed

Seepage of contaminants at site 130 miles northeast of Wrangell reported by Canadian environmental group.

Students swing on a playground at Meadow Lakes Head Start in Wasilla, Alaska. It closed in 2024 due to funding and staffing challenges. (Image by Lela Seiler, courtesy of CCS Early Learning)
Alaska Head Start programs in limbo after regional office closed by U.S. Health Secretary Kennedy

Tribal programs such as Tlingit and Haida’s not affected by closures.

Alaska House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, speaks at a House majority news conference, April 8, 2025, in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage; Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage; Edgmon; and Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, are seated left to right. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska lawmakers are divided over state budget, stuck without agreement over dividend, schools

House majority leaders appeal to GOP minority, Gov. Dunleavy for agreement on spending plan.

A preliminary design shows a park at Aak’w Landing, the cultural and arts center, and a cruise ship in port at Huna Totem’s private dock. (Courtesy of Huna Totem)
Assembly OKs Aak’w Landing tideland lease based on its goal of better managing tourism

Huna Totem says the dock is expected to be operational by the 2027 visitor season.

Most Read