Not long removed from two state championships in a three-year span, it might seem a stretch to claim moral victories after the Haines High School varsity boys’ basketball team started its season with a string of losses.
But on Friday night at home against a Yukon squad, with the visitors nearing a 30-point victory margin, the Glacier Bears still dove for steals, sending the screech of floor burns throughout the gym.
Perhaps it’s something innate in the Glacier Bears, or the drilling by coach Steve Fossman, but no one on the court appeared deflated by the scoreboard.
That made Saturday’s win all the sweeter, as Haines held off Thunder Mountain, 44-40.
Each Haines varsity basketball team broke into the win column last weekend during an eight-game, round-robin competition at Karl Ward Gymnasium.
The Glacier Bears welcomed athletes from Thunder Mountain’s junior varsity squads, as well as a Yukon boys’ traveling team.
The Haines girls went 2-0 over Thunder Mountain, starting slow each night and then expanding their lead after intermission. Haines played with a shortened bench, as the JV headed to Skagway for games there.
The Glacier Bears led 17-15 at halftime on Friday, and went on to win, 45-29. They exploded for 20 points in the fourth quarter to turn a one-point lead into a blowout. Junior Kayley Swinton poured in 18 points, and sophomore Olivia Wing added 9.
Haines trailed at the half, 13-10, the following night. Swinton and junior Destinee Cowart took over the third quarter, combining for all 17 of the team’s points. Swinton had 11 in the third, and Cowart tallied 6. The Glacier Bears snatched the victory, 39-24.
For the night, Swinton scored 14 points; Cowart, 12; Wing, 5; senior Paige Winge, 4; and juniors Jenae Larson and Autumn Gross, 2.
The weekend series was encouraging to see the emergence of Cowart as a low-post threat, as well as the return of senior Natalia Taylor, who missed the team’s home games against Wrangell during the holiday break.
The Glacier Bear boys fit four games into their weekend, as they played both Thunder Mountain and the Yukon squad twice. Haines opened with a 37-29 loss to the Falcons on Friday, when senior Keegan Sundberg was the lone Glacier Bear in double figures. Sundberg drained a pair of 3-pointers on his way to 15 points. Fellow senior Jordan Badger chipped in 7 points.
Haines had two tough battles with the speedy Yukoners, falling 54-24 on Friday and 62-45 on Saturday. Badger went off for four 3-pointers in the second contest and notched 18 points, including a perfect 4-4 from the foul line. Sundberg had 10 points and freshman Hudson Sage added 6.
Badger proved the hero in Saturday’s defeat of Thunder Mountain, scoring 10 of his game-high 17 points in the final frame. He went 6-6 from the charity stripe in the pressure-packed last moments. Sundberg had 10 points; senior Kyle Klinger, 6; freshman Dylan Swinton, 5; and senior Josh Stearns and junior Matthew Green, 3.
The Haines boys showed they will continue to play an entertaining brand of basketball, no matter what the score. Seniors Sundberg and Keanu Lynch are examples of hustle and tenacity, zipping across the court. They are listed at 5’9” and 5’7”, respectively, on the roster.
The only Glacier Bears six foot or above are freshmen – Sage, Swinton and Dalton Klinger – and 6’8” senior Kyle Klinger. The elder Klinger joined the team as a junior. His speed and agility indicate a tremendous upside, and his crushing block on a fastbreak drew enthusiastic cheers from the home faithful.
Yukon topped Thunder Mountain in two close games to round out the competition.
Residents looking for a basketball feast this weekend can see all the squads – JV, varsity, boys and girls – compete at home this weekend against Craig. Games are slated to start 3 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
The jersey retirement ceremony for former Glacier Bear all-stater Kyle Fossman has been set for about 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, between the 5:30 p.m. varsity girls’ and 7:15 p.m. varsity boys’ games.