Klukwan rolls over Yakutat in M bracket

Klukwan hit the threes it needed to bounce Yakutat from the tournament at Gold Medal Wednesday afternoon.

Klukwan won 66-48 in the 42-and-up M bracket, loser-out game. Klukwan’s Dan Hotch proved that a nice shot from distance doesn’t tarnish with age as he nailed a tournament-high nine 3-pointers in the contest.

Hotch commented that his team found good ball movement to help him get open at the arc.

“We had a lot more ball movement than the first game. A lot of us haven’t played together for quite some time, just in Gold Medal. We kind of had to feel of each other out, everybody’s spots they like, just getting used to each other. … When you get into Gold Medal there’s a whole different intensity,” Hotch said.

In order to win the tournament Hotch said the fundamentals are key, but he also mentioned that at their age, they need a little help to stay healthy.

“I injured my Achilles last month, so I shouldn’t really be playing. Staying healthy is a key,” Hotch said with a knowing chuckle.

Chris Wassman followed Hotch’s game-high 27 points with 15 for Klukwan.

Yakutat was led in defeat by Frank Jack with 14 points and Gary Klushkan and Bob Rockwood with 10 points each.

Gary Klushkan kept a great sense of humor in the loss.

“Good shooting tonight, not by us. We couldn’t get passes through or make a few shots. … Couldn’t get any shots to fall, it seemed like there was a lid over our basket,” Klushkan said.

Like many Gold Medal players, Klushkan is here for the tournament experience, and will stick around for the week to root on the rest of the teams.

Klukwan moves on to play at 6 p.m. Friday in another elimination game.