The last time they met on the hardwood, the Wrangell High School boys varsity basketball team fell in two games against the Sitka team on Sitka’s homecourt.
“Our guys played really tough,” head coach Cody Angerman said after those games in December. “I would love to play this Sitka team again when we get Ethan (Blatchley) back.”
And play the higher-division team again they did on Feb. 5 and 6, splitting the two games.
Originally, the Haines team was supposed to come to Wrangell to play but those plans fell through. At that time, Angerman said they reached out to some other teams to see if they would be available to come play. Sitka affirmed they could, which led to last week’s matchup.
This time, the Wrangell Wolves were more prepared for the Sitka Wolves and made it hard for the visiting team to gain points.
In the first period of the Feb. 5 game, it looked like Sitka might pull ahead early, leading by five points by the buzzer, 12-7. However, Wrangell rebounded, caught up and passed Sitka to end the second period ahead, 25-24. The home team kept up the heat and the third period ended 36-33 in favor of Wrangell. However, the lead wouldn’t last as Sitka caught up and overtook Wrangell, winning the game 48-42.
“Our mentality is that we can compete against anyone, and our sights are set on the (Division) 2A teams,” Angerman said. “I’m just happy that the guys played really hard both nights and can understand what can come out of playing good defense.”
That’s just what Wrangell did the second night of play. Although Sitka led by five points once again at the end of the first period, Wrangell wouldn’t allow them to score at all in the second period, surging forward with their own baskets. By the end of the second period, Wrangell had added 13 points to the board, leading 18-10.
Wrangell kept up the defense throughout the rest of the game while continuing to work hard on its offense. The third period ended with Wrangell ahead, 27-16. Sitka began to catch up in the fourth period, but Wrangell was able to hold them off, eventually winning the game 34-29.
Last weekend was a bye week for Wrangell, giving the teams a chance to rest up before scheduled travel to take on Metlakatla on that teams’ homecourt.
Boys and girls varsity teams will have a chance for a rematch against the Chiefs and Miss Chiefs, who came to Wrangell at the end of January.
Wrangell was scheduled to attend the Stikine Hardwood Classic in Petersburg, but those plans were canceled.
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