An undersized Haines Merchants team advanced to the finals of the Dick Hotch Memorial Basketball Tournament Sunday, but fell 137-81 to a powerhouse squad from Juneau.
“We definitely gave it our best effort, but we were out of gas, and they played a really good game,” said Haines’ Jason Shull, who earned all-tournament honors.
The Merchants were one of seven adult teams in the field, from Haines, Juneau, Klukwan and Whitehorse.
The Chilkat Warriors finished third in the four-day event at the Haines School’s Karl Ward Gymnasium.
“With seven teams, we didn’t have to use the smaller gym,” said organizer Larry Sweet.
All-tournament performers included Shull and Stuart DeWitt of the Merchants, Jacob Hotch and Stan Johnson of the Chilkat Warriors, Jesse Piper of Fox Air, Adam Nelson and Al Tagaban of Juno, Danny Thomas of the K2 Huskies, and David Berry and Bo Graham of Klukwan ANS.
DeWitt was the top point-scorer in the tournament, and teammate Neil Erickson received the sportsmanship award. Katherine Hotch was named “Best Fan” for her support of the K2 Huskies.
The Merchants trailed 68-50 at halftime of the championship game Sunday as they tried to defend their title. They had played four games on Saturday and clawed their way back into the top of the bracket.
“I think we were outmatched, and a few of our guys weren’t here,” said Merchant Jesse McGraw.
Ryan Cook, Jeff David, Kenny Lemieux, Aaron Nash and Ralph Swinton also competed for the runner-up Merchants.
The Dick Hotch Memorial Basketball Tournament, a 30-year tradition, awarded trophies for three-point and free-throw contests, highlighted by Haines boys’ basketball coach Steve Fossman, who drained 22 three-pointers in one minute. According to Guinness World Records online, a record of 25 three-pointers in a minute was set in Oregon in 2007.