After the dust settled on this year’s Region V 2A tournament in Ketchikan, the top-seeded Metlakatla boys and girls teams, the third- seeded Wrangell girls and the fourth-seeded Petersburg boys advanced to the state tournament in Anchorage. The Metlakatla teams continued their dominant seasons, each winning the tournament, while Wrangell and Petersburg played their way in through the consolation bracket.
Both Haines Glacier Bears teams were eliminated on Thursday after being defeated in their second round games. The girls lost to Craig 57-17. The boys also lost to Craig, 79-64.
With four tenths of a second on the clock in their final game of the season, first-year player India Wilkinson stepped to the foul line and swished a free throw. She was one of four first-year players on the Haines roster, all of whom experienced playing time in the tournament. Makayla Crager scored nine points in her final game as a Glacier Bear.
In the boys’ game, Craig established an early eight point lead, 11-3. Haines battled back and with 4:46 to play in the first half, Carson Crager tied the game at 27 on a fast break lay-up. The Panthers ended the half on a 10-1 run to lead 37-28 going into the locker room. They maintained the nine point lead and led 54-45 at the end of three quarters.
With their season on the line, the Glacier Bears surged back once more. Midway through the final period Mark Davis knocked the ball loose and quickly dribbled downcourt and hit a short jump shot. On the next possession, he was fouled and hit both free throws to draw the Glacier Bears to within two, 61-59.
The Panthers went on an 8-0 run to take a ten-point lead. As the quarter wore on, both Haines big-men fouled out; first Hudson Sage then Dylan Swinton. The two seniors ended their high school basketball careers watching the future of the Glacier Bears on the court. All four of Haines’ freshmen scored in the game, including 14 points by Crager and 10 by Davis. Swinton led the team with 20 points.
Craig’s Drew Marker scored 39 points and Craig advanced in the consolation bracket with a 79-64 win.
As all good things must, this year’s Glacier Bears basketball season has come to an end. It was a season full of thrilling games. Sage said the season was bittersweet. “I’m going to really miss the team I had this year,” Sage said. “Our season overall was really good. We could have done better at regionals.”
Sage said the squad has a bright future and he’s excited to see what the next few years will bring.
Both the girls’ and boys’ teams enjoyed the leadership and often outstanding performances of a dynamic senior duo: Brittney Bradford and Makayla Crager for the girls, Sage and Swinton for the boys. They will be missed, but not soon forgotten. It was a season that saw players on both squads learning and mastering new roles and responsibilities. It was a season that will be remembered as the rookie campaign for the talented Class of 2021.
Basketball games can be fun. They can be exciting. They can be heartbreaking. As the season draws to a close, Glacier Bear coaches, players and fans are left with the memories, the hope for seasons to come and the love of the game.