Gold Medal Live: Haines goes for three-peat

10:05 p.m.

Haines weathers a 12-0 Angoon run in the fourth quarter, winning the B Bracket championship game 88-80.

9:23 p.m.

Kyle Fossman has quieted down, but other Haines players have been stepping up in the second half. Tyler Swinton hit a buzzer-beater to end of the third quarter, and Haines is up 69-55 with 7:20 left in the fourth.

8:50 p.m.

Haines leads Angoon 46-35 at halftime. Kyle Fossman already has 24 points for Haines.

8:35 p.m.

Haines leads Hydaburg 38-30 midway through the second quarter in the B Bracket championship. Haines shot out to a 10-2 lead to begin the game and Angoon’s had trouble keeping Fossman in check. He’s already up to about 15 points.

7:46 p.m.

All-Tournament Team, C Bracket

Travis Dybdahl, Hoonah

Kevin Young, Hydaburg

Stuart DeWitt, Klukwan

Larry Cooper, Filcom

Joe Young, Hydaburg

Erik Hamilton, Hydaburg

Andrew Friske, Klukwan

Defensive Player of the Tournament

Michael Ganey, Klukwan

Sportsmanship Award

Donald Dybdahl, Hoonah

Tournament MVP

T.J. Young, Hydaburg

Check out part of our interview with Young below.

7:41 p.m.

Quick stats:

– Freddy Hamilton led the way with 18 points for Hydaburg.

– Jason Shull had 28 points, 22 of which came in the first half. He hit eight threes.

– As mentioned earlier, Hydaburg or Klukwan have won every C Bracket championship since 2013.

7:36 p.m.

At long last, the C Bracket championship game is finished. Hydaburg 93, Klukwan 81. There will be no four-peat here tonight. Through three games, we have two new champions. Kake, of course, won both last year and this year.

7:33 p.m.

This game continues its slow, languid march to the finish. Klukwan just keeps fouling. Hydaburg up 13 with 9.9 seconds left.

7:29 p.m.

This is still slow going. So many fouls. Hydaburg leads 91-78 with 45 seconds left.

7:19 p.m.

Progress has been slow here, as fouls are getting called on darn near every possession, but it looks like Hydaburg will break Klukwan’s streak. With just under three minutes to play, Hydaburg’s lead is 84-71. Stuart DeWitt just hit a 3 for Klukwan, but unless Hydaburg completely folds here, Klukwan will probably just run out of time.

7:13 p.m.

If Hydaburg holds on here — and its lead is now up to 81-65 — That would be the third title in six years for the team. Hydaburg also won in 2014 and 2015. So that means the last time a team not from Klukwan or Hydaburg won the C Bracket was in 2013.

7:11 p.m.

We’ve got some fire going on here. Klukwan’s Jesse McGraw and Hydaburg’s Kevin Young are basically put in the penalty box. Referee Kevin Chinn says they can come back into the game in two minutes. The two of them were jawing at each other after McGraw and another Klukwan player had Young trapped in the backcourt and McGraw was then called for a foul that he didn’t agree with.

Meanwhile, Hydaburg is growing its lead, now up 79-65 with 5:58 left. It’s going to be tough for Klukwan here.

7:02 p.m.

Hydaburg keeps fending off little Klukwan runs. Klukwan’s comeback ability makes this game feel like it’s closer than it is. Klukwan just put together a five-point possession, with Michael Ganey making one free throw, missing the second, getting his own rebound and feeding Friske. Friske scores, gets fouled, and makes his foul shot.

Hydaburg’s Eric Hamilton then hits a big 3 in the final seconds of the quarter to push the lead back to double digits. It’s 70-60 going into the fourth.

6:57 p.m.

Hydaburg’s lead is up tp to 10 points, 60-50 with 3:48 left in the third. Joe Young has hit a couple big three-pointers this half, including one a moment ago to extend the lead. Klukwan’s Michael Ganey has missed a couple around the rim in the past few minutes that could have provided a boost for Klukwan in its comeback attempt.

6:46 p.m.

Klukwan’s Stuart DeWitt, who pulled up lame at the end of the first half with what looks to be an Achilles issue, hits a long three-pointer to get the scoring started this half, and then hits another. Then Friske hits a three. Here they come. Hydaburg’s lead suddenly is down to 52-48.

6:42 p.m.

Here’s an interesting storyline for you: Andrew Friske, one of Klukwan’s leading scorers and best players in recent years, showed up in the final minute of the first half. He just walked into the gym, shoes dangling from his backpack, and sat down on the bench. Wonder why he missed the first half, but he’ll probably have fresh legs as Klukwan tries to come back.

6:40 p.m.

Here’s a typical Klukwan possession. Two dribbles, four passes and an open three-pointer for Jason Shull.

He’s playing well, but Klukwan trails Hydaburg 50-39 at halftime.

6:28 p.m.

Jason Shull is feeling it tonight. The Gold Medal Hall of Famer hits a 3, then gets a steal and feeds Michael Ganey on the break for another 3 to tie the game at 34. Maybe Shull is fired up from the loss he suffered earlier today as the coach of the Haines women’s team. Or maybe he’s just very good.

Metlakatla answers that run with a quick 5-0 run of its own and leads 39-34 with six minutes left in the first half.

6:22 p.m.

At the end of the first quarter, Hydaburg leads Klukwan 27-22. T.J. Young has seven points for Hydaburg and Jason Shull has 10 points for Klukwan.

6:10 p.m.

There have already been four lead changes, but Hydaburg is on top 16-11 as we approach the midway mark of the first quarter. It’s an up-and-down game, as both of these teams like to play. Klukwan in particular loves to push the pace, as we’ve seen in recent years.

5:55 p.m.

Can Klukwan continue its C Bracket dominance? The team has won three straight titles. But Hydaburg has stormed its way through the bracket this year, going undefeated to date. We’ll see what happens when the championship game tips off in just a few minutes.

5:10 p.m.

Kake wins its third Masters championship in four years, coasting past Klukwan 75-64. They outscored Klukwan 24-14 in the second quarter, and led by about 15 points for most of the second half. It definitely seems like an anticlimatic ending for Kake, who’s now won seven straight Gold Medal games dating back to last year.

Some stats from the win:

– Rudy Bean scored a team-high 23 points.

– Scott Forbes and Dan Hotch each had four 3-pointers for Klukwan.

5 p.m.

Klukwan’s Dan Hotch and Scott Forbes knocked down three 3’s at the end of the third, to come as close as 56-43. Hotch kept firing from 3 in the fourth, but they aren’t falling now. It’s now 71-56 Kake midway through the fourth.

4:35 p.m.

Kake closes the first half on a 10-3 run and is rolling right now. Rudy Bean is up to 19 points while Lloyd David has 12. Scott Forbes has 13 points for Klukwan, who is playing for the third consecutive day. It’s hard enough playing back-to-back days — let alone three days in a row — Dave Buss said after Klukwan’s win yesterday.

4:20 p.m.

Kake leads 18-13 after one period. Rudy Bean aleady had eight points. When Klukwan shares the ball, good things tend to happen.

4:10 p.m.

This Kake lineup of Rudy Bean, Nick Davis, Lloyd Davis, Kip Howard and Jay Peterson likely brings the most cumulative Gold Medal experience of any team. They could claim their third Masters title in four years with a win today.

Bean already had two 3’s and they’re leading Klukwan 12-8.

4:05 p.m.

Klukwan and Kake are about ready to tip off in their Masters Bracket championship game.

3:40 p.m.

Here’s video of Jesse Ellis and Kaylie Smith, who both earned tournament honors (see below).

All-Tournament team

Kaitlyn Jerod, Skagway

Rachel Brittenham, Haines

Rose Fraker, Yakutat

Savannah Ames, Skagway

Melissa Fisher, Hoonah

Fran Daly, Haines

Samantha Clay, Haines

Defensive Player of the Tournament

Kaylie Smith, Skagway

Sportsmanship Player

Jasmine James, Yakutat

Tournament MVP

Jesse Ellis, Skagway

3:31 p.m.

Still a heck of a run here for Haines, which won the 2016 and 2017 championships and made the finals in 2018 and 2019. Brittenham finished with 22 points today, and probably would have been the tournament MVP if Haines had pulled this out. As it is, I’d guess the tournament MVP goes to one of Skagway’s trio of Kaylie Smith, Savannah Ames and Jesse Ellis. Smith led Skagway with 22 points in the title game.

3:25 p.m.

For the first time in 46 years, Skagway has a Gold Medal title.

The Skagway women knock off Haines 58-49, finishing the tournament undefeated.

3:23 p.m.

Jesse Ellis makes one free throw. Skagway up 57-49 with 20 seconds left. Brittenham misses a three. Smith gets fouled with 10 seconds left.

The fans can feel it now. Skagway’s going to win.

3:22 p.m.

If Skagway holds on, this would be Skagway’s first Gold Medal championship since winning the B Bracket in 1973.

3:21 p.m.

Haines is fouling. If Skagway can make its free throws, it can put this on ice.

Savannah Ames at the line. She makes the first. And makes the second.

Skagway leads 56-48 with 40 seconds left.

3:17 p.m.

On Haines’ next possession after that previous update, Daly sets a screen for Brittenham, who drives, scores, draws the foul and makes her foul shot. That cuts the lead to 52-48.

3:15 p.m.

Not sure why Rachel Brittenham isn’t just taking the game into her hands on offense. She’s best when she’s distributing, of course, but she’s also one of the best players out there at creating her own shot. Haines needs a spark, and quickly.

Skagway leads 52-45 (its largest lead of the game) with 1:54 left.

3:12 p.m.

Smith hits a huge three that brings Skagway’s fans to their feet. Skagway’s lead is 48-42 with four minutes left. Things are getting tense on the Haines side.

3:10 p.m.

Skagway leads 43-40 with 5:20 left in the game after an Ellis layup in transition through traffic. Impressive shot, and the fans reward her with a large ovation.

3:03 p.m.

Entering the final quarter, Haines leads 40-37. Buckle up.

2:57 pm.

This game is getting physical, particularly between Rachel Brittenham and Jesse Ellis. With Ellis handling the ball, Brittenham poked it away a couple times, but Ellis was able to get it back. Ellis passed the ball away, then Ellis ended up knocking Brittenham to the floor as the two of them fought around a screen. The Haines fans — and coach Jason Shull — are livid at no call.

Anyway, we just had our second tie and 12th lead change thanks to Skagway free throws. Skagway up 37-26 with 1:55 left in the third.

2:53 p.m.

Ten lead changes now, by my count. The Skagway faithful are getting louder and louder. Skagway leads 35-33 with 4:13 left in the third.

2:50 p.m.

By my count, we just had our seventh and eighth lead changes of the day within seconds of each other. Skagway leads 32-31 about halfway through the third. This game has been dizzyingly fast.

Hold that: Haines just scored, up 33-32. Make that nine lead changes today.

2:42 p.m.

The fifth lead change of the half comes in the final seconds, as Daly scores to put Haines up 24-23 at the end of the half. Daly has 10 points at halftime. Kaylie Smith has seven points for Skagway.

Just prior to this play below, Haines coach Jason Shull yelled for his team to “run the play.” They ran it to perfection, as four players touched the ball and Alisa Beske scored. This came when Haines was down by five, its largest deficit of the game.

2:30 p.m.

Suddenly, Skagway is in the lead. The bleachers are shaking as Skagway fans react to a 9-0 run from Skagway to put the team on top 15-14. Shots are finally falling and Skagway is really getting going in transition, which starts on defense with a few missed Haines shots.

Below is a video of one of the key baskets in that run, with Kaylie Smith hitting a three-pointer in transition. That cut the lead to 14-10.

2:21 p.m.

At the end of the first quarter, Haines leads 14-6. Daly has eight points for Haines. Nobody for Skagway has more than two points. Haines has done a good job bothering Savannah Ames and Jesse Ellis on offense here early. Ames in particular has had no room to breathe.

2:20 p.m.

A classic 2019 Haines moment there, as Haines’ Karlie Spud gets a steal and gets the ball to Rachel Brittenham, who slings a half-court pass to a streaking Fran Daly for an open layup in transition. Brittenham and Daly have been doing that all tournament. Brittenham, you might recall, set the Wofford College all-time assists record as a college basketball player.

Haines is up 12-6 as the first quarter winds down. Daly is pictured below.

2:14 p.m.

The rim has not been kind to Skagway. Skagway’s getting open shots and the shots look good coming off their hands, but they’re just not going in. Haines up 10-4 early, threatening to grab control.

2:10 p.m.

Haines’ Fran Daly, who’s had a huge tournament and is probably in the running for MVP, was practicing shots from just beyond the elbow prior to the game. On an inbounds play, she springs open just beyond the elbow, gets the ball and fires. Swish. Haines up 8-2.

2:06 p.m.

Fan behind me: “The girls are vicious. I love girls’ basketball.”

Haines, probably more than any other squad here, is an aggressive and intense team. We’re seeing it early, with Haines responding to that early Skagway basket with a 6-0 run to lead 6-2 early.

2:04 p.m.

Skagway wins the tip and scores first. There are definitely more Skagway fans here today than there have been all tournament. Jesse Ellis from Skagway told me earlier this week that she was expecting a pretty big influx of fans to come this weekend, and she was right.

1:20 p.m.

We’re a little more than half an hour to gametime for the Women’s Bracket Championship. It’s a rematch of Haines-Skagway. Skagway, a team of newcomers, beat Haines 62-55 on Sunday. It was a bit of an upset, considering Haines had won the 2016 and 2017 championships and had appeared in the title game last year. Both teams have been dominant since then. Read more on that matchup here.

The full schedule today:

2 p.m. Skagway-Haines, W Bracket Championship

4 p.m. Kake-Klukwan, M Bracket Championship

6 p.m. Hydaburg-Klukwan, C Bracket Championship

8 p.m. Angoon-Haines, B Bracket Championship

Read more about Friday’s action here.

1:15 p.m., Saturday

Here we go, folks. It’s championship Saturday at Gold Medal. When I got here at 1 p.m. (an hour before gametime), a line extended all the way through the JDHS lobby. Photo below.