Metlakatla junior Ryley Booth battles for a loose ball with Wrangell sophomore Aubrey Wynne, senior Kiara Harrison, freshman Christina Johnson (12) and sophomore Addy Andrews (21) in the Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla junior Ryley Booth battles for a loose ball with Wrangell sophomore Aubrey Wynne, senior Kiara Harrison, freshman Christina Johnson (12) and sophomore Addy Andrews (21) in the Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla girls nip Wrangell to earn spot in championship game

MisChiefs against Lady Wolves

The Juneau Empire’s expanded coverage of the Region V tournament is made possible by Sealaska Corp. Thanks to this sponsorship, this article —and all 2023 Region V coverage — is available online without a subscription to the Empire.

The Metlakatla High School girls basketball team withstood a last second push by Wrangell to earn a 51-47 Region V tournament win Thursday and a berth in the championship game on Friday.

With 10 seconds remaining in the game and nursing a 49-47 lead MisChiefs senior Bree Chavez tied up a Lady Wolves inbounds pass for a jump ball and possession.

Metlakatla inbounded from halfcourt to Chavez who scored at the buzzer.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“We started off really, really well,” Metlakatla coach Julian Russell said. “One of the best starts we have had all year long. But once in a while we get in that third quarter and have a let down and we did today. But Wrangell is really good and they battled back. I was really proud of us for coming back and hanging on for that victory. We’ve had times when it was really close and we had given up a lead and we collapse a little and get down on ourselves. Today we never did it, never wavered, stuck with the plan, and pulled out a close victory. We did everything I could ask of the girls.”

Metlakatla started the game with an 11-2 advantage on baskets by Chavez, junior Ryley Booth, junior Kennedy Cook, senior Alysia Nelson-Boyd and a single free throw from Booth.

Wrangell hit just a pair of free throws by senior Kiara Harrison.

Metlakatla kept the pressure on for a 27-13 lead at the half.

In the third quarter Wrangell started to ride Harrison inside and the senior helped the Lady Wolves put a 15-5 run on the score clock, accounting for 13 of the points, and pulling to five points, 32-28, at the stanza’s end.

“It was tough,” Metlakatla junior Kennedy Cook said of trying to guard Harrison. “She is really good and tall.”

Cook would hold her own, grabbing 10 rebounds in the game and going 8-9 at the free throw line including five in the fourth quarter.

“We had to watch our turnovers and fouls,” Cook said. “This is my first time making all of my free throws. I’m not really the best free throw shooter. It was surprising.”

Metlakatla’s Cook and Wrangell’s Harrison exchanged scores to start the final stanza and Wrangell pulled to 36-33 on a bank shot by junior Kayla Meissner.

After a pair of Cook free throws Wrangell’s Harrison notched a shot off glass, sophomore Aubrey Wynne scored on a fast break and the Lady Wolves were within one point, 38-37.

The two sides traded baskets through the stanza and Harrison hit a tough turn-a-round to pull the Lady Wolves to two points, 47-45.

Metlakatla’s Cook answered for the 49-45 lead and Wrangell sophomore Addy Andrews put the Lady Wolves final bucket in with 39 seconds remaining.

“It’s a tough one but I am proud of our girls,” Wrangell coach Christina Good said. “We played hard, fought back, played all the way through to the end and we almost got a W today but, you know what, sometimes it just doesn’t fall our way. But it was great, all the girls played well together. We had a good first and second half. I was really proud of them.”

“We pride ourselves on our defense,” Good said. “And that’s what wins ball games. We just came up short on a couple of possessions… now we just have to get back into it. We are not giving up. We are going to be back there. We are going to state.”

Cook led Metlakatla with 18 points, Booth added 14, Chavez 13, and seniors Alysia Nelson-Boyd, Randi Schleusner and Chloe Guthrie two each.

The MisChiefs hit 12-24 at the free throw line, Wrangell hit 17-21.

Harrison led Wrangell with a game-high 33 points, juniors Kayla and Mindy Meissner four apiece, freshman Christina Johnson, Andrews and Wynne two each.

Metlakatla advances to face Craig in the championship game Friday at 3 p.m.

Wrangell will play an elimination game at 8:00 a.m. Friday against the winner of Petersburg/Haines elimination contest Thursday.

More in Sports

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mary Johnson protects the ball from Wasilla junior Mielee Merchant (4) and senior Mylee Anderson (14) during a Crimson Bears loss to the Warriors last weekend in the George Houston Gymnasium. JDHS will host Ketchikan at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS girls to host Kayhi for final conference games

Crimson Bears invite Lady Kings to their den Thursday, Friday

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Ahmir Parker (2) guards Ketchikan senior Marcus Stockhausen (34) during their series early in the season at JDHS. Parker has been a "jack-of-all-trades" for the Crimson Bears this season. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Crimson Bears boys taking on Kings at Ketchikan

JDHS playing final Southeast Conference games on the road.

The author in one of his favorite pastimes — sitting in the mountains. (Photo courtesy Becky Bohrer)
Pure Sole: My Mudrooms

A friend of mine from the Haa Yaitx’u Saiani’s Kin Support Program… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Nordic Ski Team member Ida Meyer competes at the Region VI Championships Friday in Fairbanks. Meyer placed seventh overall in the girls 7.5km Mass Start. The JDHS girls team placed second in the two-day regions, the boys third. JDHS senior Finn Lamb led the Crimson Bears boys with a sixth place finish in the 7.5km. (Photo courtesy JDHS Nordic Ski)
JDHS Crimson Bears take snow show on the road

Nordic Ski Team girls second, boys third at Region VI Championships.

Twigs of red huckleberry are green all year, but brighter in summer than winter. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
On the Trails: Tree bark

The center of a tree or shrub stem (from roots to trunk,… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka (14) floats a jump shot over Wasilla senior Layla Hays (52) during the Crimson Bears’ 46-30 loss Saturday to the Warriors in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A small Layla, a tall Layla give highlight plays on Saturday

JDHS’ Tokuoka, Wasilla’s Hays key second matchup of the weekend as Warriors prevail 46-30.

Lucas Bovitz of Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kale carries the puck with attention from Kenai Central goalie Evyn Witt and William Howard at the First National Cup Division II state hockey tournament Saturday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Crimson Bears hockey place third on state ice

Juneau-Douglas gets revenge win over Kenai

Wasilla junior Katie Jackson drives and passes around Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé seniors Cailynn Baxter and Addison Wilson (10) during the Warriors’ 65-34 win Friday over the Crimson Bears in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Wasilla girls storm Juneau-Douglas home court

Warriors down Crimson Bears in George Houston Gymnasium

In this file photo Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Dylan Sowa (35) is congratulated on a scoring goal by senior captain Luke Bovitz (4) during senior night weekend against Kenai. Sowa had two goals Friday in the Crimson Bears’ 5-2 loss to Palmer at the 2025 ASAA Division II Hockey State Tournament in Soldotna. JDHS will face Kenai in the 3rd/5th-place game Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Moose push Crimson Bears aside 5-2 in state semifinals

Palmer will play for title, JDHS for third at state hockey tournament.

Most Read