Haines High School basketball seniors Emma Dohrn, Ashlyn Ganey, Ari’el Godinez-Long, Kobe Brew, Phoenix Swaner and Alex Weerasinghe played their last official high school game in the Haines gym.
We were lucky to witness their efforts and sportsmanship.
The Glacier Bear Girls seemed business-like against Petersburg during their Friday night game, a fast-pressed business.
Emma Dohrn began the game with four straight baskets and finished the first quarter with 12 points, helping her team finish in the win column, 41-21.
Enjoy it now, seniors, that’s my peanut gallery advice. Soon you will be talking about affordable housing (lack of), and dealing with vehicle issues, relationship issues, work issues, and trying to figure out what you really want to do with your life.
It doesn’t get much better than free room-and-board, trips to exotic places like Metlakatla and Craig to camp and play basketball with your friends, and draining three-pointers in front of a friendly crowd.
The Glacier Bear boys also beat the Petersburg Vikings on Friday evening, 44-21. Petersburg coach Rick Brock was yelling at his players during the game, “Can anyone get a rebound?” He has been coaching for 35 years.
There was much chatter in the crowd and around town about the Goldbelt catamaran boat ride from Juneau. They left at 6 a.m. Friday and bucked through 30-knot winds and high seas to get to Portage Cove.
Seasickness, something so bad no one wants to even talk about it, was rampant. Great sighs of relief were seen (by me, I was down at the dock) as people got off the Alaska-style ride.
A co-member of the peanut gallery at the game speculated the reason Petersburg underperformed is that sea sickness affects your motor skills. Motor skills. I was dubious. I kept thinking of a sign in the locker room where I went to high school in 1980 that said, Results Not Excuses. Those were days when sayings said things that actually said something.
The Petersburg boys and girls were completely different teams Saturday. I now believe that seasickness affects motor skills and the Petersburg teams were affected Friday.
Saturday, the gym was filled with the sound of squeaks from 10 players’ sneakers planted with passion and intention to move. It’s like the sound of a big bunch of scoter ducks taking off. You can tell how serious a game is by the amplitude of squeaks. We had some high squeaker games Saturday.
In the girls’ game, Haines fell behind 14-3, then realized it wasn’t going to be easy. But they got some steals and CC Elliot and Sydney Salmon showed glimpses of power, ripping down rebounds. In case anyone is wondering, the way to get rebounds is to go under the rim and pretend you are a tree and everyone else is a bush.
The game was close. In the third quarter, Haines’ big gun point guard Ari’el Godinez-Long, took an arm to the nose playing tight defense and had to exit the action for the rest of the game. I thought, “Losing your star, that sucks.”
However, Dohrn started bringing the ball up the court. Her teammates caught the ball when it came their way, didn’t travel, and played serious defense.
Down 21-25 at the end of the third quarter, Haines willed themselves to winning, 36-27.
Petersburg played well, but Haines was more skilled. That’s what having seniors and getting some time in the gym does for the win-loss record.
Haines girls are now 4-2 in conference play. Petersburg girls are 1-7.
During the Saturday night Haines boys’ game, fans were delighted by another close game, every player giving their all.
Pit bull point guard Colton Combs led the Haines team to victory, 50-48. It’s one thing to dive after a ball, it’s another thing to dive after a ball and actually secure it. Combs seems to have the DNA to get the ball when he goes for it.
He also has a quality three-point shot. If I were the coach I’d tell him to take three point shots a little more often. Haines will need their shooters to shoot when they play better teams.
Put James Stickler underneath to rebound. That kid has so much muscle he could sell it.
Tied at 24 at the half, the game teeter-tottered. Nail biters were biting their nails.
Senior Alex Weerasinghe decided to do something about it, draining a three-pointer and getting five points in the third quarter, then three free throws in the fourth quarter. That’s what a team needs to win by two points.
Petersburg boys left Haines with zero wins and seven losses in conference play. Haines boys are 2-4 in the conference.
Soon the underclassmen will be seniors. As a fan, I hope they are working out in the off season and progressing. Time marches on. It always wins.
Haines Glacier Bears girls and boys are scheduled to play in Craig next weekend, and the regional tournament begins March 5 in Ketchikan.