Not much separated Yakutat and Haines.
That was until Yakutat guard Kim Buller stole the ball at halfcourt and flew away from the Haines defense in what turned out to be the key basket late in the fourth quarter in Yakutat’s 60-52 victory over Haines.
Buller led the way for all scorers as she dropped in 20 points while hitting 10-of-12 free throws. Buller described the key play as staying concentrated the entire way despite Haines making a push.
“I just kept my eye on the ball the whole way,” she said.
Buller also hit key free throws down the stretch to ice the game away.
“Free throws win games,” she said. “You have to hit those. That’s why they are called ‘free.’”
The game, which was the first in the Women’s Bracket this year, was battle the entire way as neither team could really pull away. The final score was as big of a lead as either team had.
Haines made a late run in the fourth as Samantha Clay knocked in two three-pointers and Karli Spud hit one. However, Rose Fraker’s eight fourth-quarter points kept Yakutat ahead before Buller’s key plays. Fraker finished with 12 points.
Clay and Fran Daly paced Haines with 13 points each.
Yakutat was able to build a six-point lead heading into the fourth, but Haines would not go away. Baskets by Clay and Daly and a trio of three throws Alisa Beske kept Haines close. But, foul trouble and a shortage of players eventually tired out the team.
Haines coach Jason Shull said even in the loss, he believed his team played a good game.
“This was a good start and good opening game,” he said. “We have a few more players coming in and that will help. But, we have to tip our hats to Yakutat. They played really well.”
Buller said beating last year’s champs was the way they wanted to start this year’s slate of games.
“It feels really good,” Buller said. “We might see them again in the championship.”
• Contact reporter Gregory Philson at gphilson@juneauempire.com or call at 523-2265. Follow him on Twitter at @GTPhilson.
Maria Tulik, left, and Yakutat’s Kim Buller scramble for a loose ball during their Women’s bracket game in the Juneau Lion’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Yakutat won the game 60-52. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
