It’s looking like it’s going to be a building year for the Wrangell Wolves boys basketball team after their first two games of the season against the Haines Glacier Bears.

Losing Friday night 30-59, and 28-49 on Saturday, Jan. 9-10, it seems the loss of last year’s seniors — including Kyan Stead, Daniel Harrison and Trevyn Gillen — has taken its toll on the team.

The boys did not go down without a fight against Haines, however, diving for balls, pulling down rebounds and getting a few good blocks in against the Glacier Bears.

Michael Cook, Kai Wigg and Aadyn Gillen led the Wolves on Friday night with a couple of three pointers and a jump shot, giving Wrangell some hope by making the score 8-7 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, however, the Glacier Bears pushed back with a full-court press and some good post moves by senior James Stickler.

For Wrangell, Cook made a long three, rounding out his six points of the night, while a free throw from Jackson Powers, two layups by Wigg and two by Everett Meissner helped the Wolves keep up with Haines.

The score was 20-26 at halftime, with Haines ahead. Gillen pulled some deep threes to bring some momentum to Wrangell. The boys just couldn’t keep up with the Glacier Bears, however, and for every point Wrangell made, Haines made double.

The Wolves didn’t make a single point in the last quarter of the game, and the number of fouls they gave up didn’t help either. The game ended with a loss of 30-59. Gillen scored eight points, Wigg with seven, Cook with six, Kasey Whitaker scoring four points, Meissner with his four, and Powers with his single free throw.

Saturday night it seemed more of the same. Cook started off with a three to build some confidence, followed by Wigg with a layup and free throw, and Gillen with a fadeaway jump shot. Yet, no matter how hard Wrangell tried, Haines just couldn’t be stopped.

In the second quarter Powers came out strong, but every time the Wolves’ senior captain scored, so would Haines senior captain Colton Combs. Wrangell scored four points while Haines built up a 15-point lead, leaving the score at 14-29 at halftime.

With a pick and roll from Powers, a layup from both Meissner and Cook, the Wolves put up a bit of a fight, but fouls cost them. With Haines in the bonus for the third straight quarter — for every foul Wrangell committed, Haines got to shoot a free throw — the Glacier Bears continued to build their lead.

With both Cook and Meissner fouling out, Powers being the only one to score, and Haines going into the bonus again during the fourth quarter, the Wolves lost for the second time against the visiting team.

The team is looking to recover this weekend when the Petersburg Vikings come to town for Wrangell’s homecoming weekend. The varsity games will start at 6 and 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with Senior Night, Homecoming Court, Mini Cheerleading and much more included in the event-filled weekend.

The junior varsity teams will play Friday and Saturday afternoons.