The Haines Glacier Bears boys’ basketball team ended their season at the state championship in Anchorage last week, falling to Glennallen and Cordova.
Glennallen handily defeated the Bears 73-45 on Thursday, March 14. Haines’ second game against Cordova on Friday was much closer, both teams were within a few points of each other up until the final minutes.
Haines led 16-13 by the end of the first quarter. Cordova came back and outscored the Bears in the second and held a tenuous two-point lead going into halftime. Haines controlled the momentum in the third and had a four-point lead going into the final quarter.
Haines was up by one point with three minutes left in the game when Cordova pushed and increased their lead by three. Haines freshman David Strong was fouled and sent to the line. He hit one freethrow, decreasing Cordova’s lead to two.
Cordova recovered the ball and the Bears pressed. Cordova worked the ball down the court. A Cordova player hit a jumper and was fouled. He hit the shot and increased the lead to five.
The Bears missed a shot and rebounded, but an offensive foul put the ball back into Cordova’s hands. Cordova scored again and expanded their lead to seven. Despite multiple shots, the Bears couldn’t get the ball to drop. Haines only scored four points in the fourth quarter.
With less than two minutes left, Haines had to foul and Cordova hit their shots. Cordova won 59-49.
Sophomore Mark Davis was selected to the all-state team by a panel of judges.
Junior Kirby Faverty said state was exciting, capping a season of dramatic improvements. “I feel we progressed as a team so well. Going from losing to Craig to getting second place in regionals, I think we did really well,” Faverty said. “State was very nerve-wracking. I think that showed in our playing.”
Faverty, a leading scorer for the Bears all season, said he’s excited by next year’s prospects when talented incoming freshmen, including Luke Davis and Eric Gillham, will join the team led by Faverty, Davis and Carson Crager.
Senior players from Petersburg, Metlakatla, Craig and Wrangell will be gone next year, which will make Haines more competitive going into next year’s season. “I think we’re going to be a really good team next year.”
Head coach Steve Fossman said his young team did well at state, a trip he expects them to repeat next year.
He said he’s happy with the improvement his team made over the course of the season. “I was really happy with it,” Fossman said. “We got a lot better at the end of the season. That got us through regionals and to state and showed them that at that point in the season, you can still get better.”
Fossman said the team’s defense is solid, and he wants to see his returning players become more aggressive and attack the basket.