Braves outlast Whalers in triple-overtime state championship game
- Klas Stolpe
- 7 days ago
- 13 min read
Mt. Edgecumbe topples powerhouse Barrow for Alaska’s 3A boys crown
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Mt. Edgecumbe Braves battled through three overtimes against the Barrow Whalers on Saturday before a worn-out buzzer sounded with the Braves winning 98-97 in the 3A boys championship game at the March Madness Alaska State Basketball Tournament.
“I did not know when the game would be over,” Mt. Edgecumbe junior Kaden Herrmann said. “But I knew if we fought hard enough we would come out on top…When we were down 10, you know, I was thinking, ‘We aren’t going to win.’ But I had a click in my mind where I knew I could fight harder to win this for my teammates and our school and our families.”
Mt. Edgecumbe trailed by 13 points midway through the third quarter and was down 10, 58-48, after Barrow junior Alex Fruean threw down a dunk from a lob pass off the backboard by senior John Adams with 31 seconds left in the stanza and then found a turnover to hit a driving basket to give the Whalers a 60-48 lead.
Herrmann, from the community of Koliganek, had just enough time to take the inbounds pass, dribble over the halfcourt and rise up for a swish past the arc to trail 60-51.
“This means a lot, coming from a small village,” Herrmann said, his voice cracking with emotion after multiple interviews from television and radio personnel at the site. “It is good to represent them and play for a bigger team at a higher level…Mt. Edgecumbe means a lot to me. It is basically like a family. I live with all these guys… I don’t know… It is a big part of my life, I live there nine months out of the year.”
Herrmann’s roommates, his teammates, and his schoolmates all contributed to the win.
Mt. Edgecumbe opened the fourth quarter with a shot past the arc by Herrmann and another closer in, a Herrmann assist to junior Xavier Gundersen (from Sand Point) and the gap closed to 60-58.
Barrow struck back with a basket by senior Blade Donovan, a tip-in by Adams, and a steal on the inbounds pass by Fruean, who passed to senior Josiah Tivao for a 66-58 lead with 3:30 to play.
Mt. Edgecumbe junior Guy Goldsberry (from Nome) was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all three free throws, only to be answered by Barrow’s Fruean for a 68-61 lead.
MEHS’ Gundersen hit a free throw and Barrow’s Tivao scored inside for a 70-62 advantage.
A basket by MEHS junior Royce Alstrom (from Anchorage) and free throws from Herrmann were answered with an old-fashioned three-point play by Fruean for a 73-66 lead with 1:45 left to play in the fourth quarter.
Goldsberry would come up big with two scores in a row to close to 73-70 with 55 seconds left. In between those scores, MEHS senior Carlos Sandoval (from Hoonah) put a massive block on a driving Whalers’ shot.
“So Hoonah is also like a big basketball community and they haven’t been the greatest these past couple years, but I feel like this should leave an impression on them,” Sandoval said. “Knowing that I came from there. Knowing that they can make it possible too and get a ring. I can’t even explain the feeling of a championship right now. It is incredible. These boys, all four years I have spent with them, they are like brothers. They are family to me. So when I get a chance to perform with them and excel with them it is an amazing feeling, especially winning that state title... And he (gestures to Herrmann) is a great captain. He keeps my head up if my head goes down. He is always pushing us harder in practice. He is one of the best captains I know.”
Barrow senior Lennox Fruean hit a drive for 75-70 and Herrmann answered within five seconds with a score and then a tie-up for a jump ball that was awarded to the Braves.
A timeout by both teams set the stage for Goldsberry to swing out to the arc and bury a shot and tie the game at 75-75. A turnover apiece by each team put the ball into A. Fruean’s hands again, and he scored for a 77-75 Whalers lead.
With time winding down, the Braves’ hopes rested with Herrmann and he was fouled on a drive and hit two free throws with 3.8 seconds left to tie the game. The Whalers’ A. Fruen put a long-distance toss-up that hit the front of the rim as the buzzer sounded and four extra minutes were put on the clock.
A loose ball started the first extra time and MEHS’ Goldsberry was called for his fifth foul. Barrow took advantage and jumped out to an 83-77 lead behind free throws from sophomore Leoni Fruean and A. Fruean and then a steal and basket by A. Fruean.
“I got a little bit frustrated, but I knew my team wanted to win it,” Goldsberry said. “So I knew they would pull it out. My whole family is happy for me. Everybody. I am already getting text messages, like everybody is happy.”
Herrmann would cause a key point in the game as he drove hard through the lane and into two defenders. The referee’s whistle said it was the fifth foul on Barrow’s A. Fruean, who would exit the game with 46 points, three highlight reel dunks, four blocked shots and a dozen rebounds.
“We knew Alex is a very talented player so we had a few different ways that we were going to try to guard him on the pick and roll,” MEHS coach Marshall Vest said. “Obviously didn't really work. I mean, he went for 40 plus. We had a few things in the back pocket, like the one three one zone. We switched to that in the second half. That cut their lead from 10 to about two. So that was a big difference-maker in the second half. But in the first half, I mean, we were just kind of wanting to come out and play our same game. Like defensive pressure, full court, run, transition offense. That was kind of the message. We are going to do what we do best, that's gotten us here. And I think we did fine on offense. I think defensively was where the adjustments had to come and where we had to improve as the game went on. But I can't even say that we did. I just think he fouled out after two overtimes.”
Herrmann put two free throws in, and after an answer by the Whalers’ Tivao, MEHS’ Gundersen scored on a drive to trail 85-81 with 1:36. Barrow’s Tivao was fouled — sending MEHS’ Sandoval out with his fifth foul — and hit one of two free throws for an 86-81 lead.
The Braves came out of a timeout and missed a shot but a loose ball scramble went their way and senior Elden Andrew (from New Stuyahok) hit from past the arc to pull to 86-84 with a minute left. Andrew then had a steal and followed a missed shot to tie the game at 86-86 with 40 seconds left. Another scramble went off Barrow, but Mt. Edgecumbe missed a shot and Barrow had a look on the other end. But two Whalers bobbled the ball and the buzzer sounded, meaning a second four-minute period would follow.
Barrow’s Tivao scored to open the second overtime and Herrmann answered for the Braves. A string of turnovers by both teams ended with MEHS’ Gundersen being fouled by Barrow’s Tivao and hitting two free throws for a 90-88 lead only to have that answered by Barrow freshman Trevor Donovan.
Herrmann hit again for the Braves and had a steal off the Barrow inbounds, but three shots were contested and the ball went out of bounds to the Whalers.
With 28 seconds remaining, Barrow’s Tivao hit from the arc for a 93-92 lead and L. Fruean stole a ball, but an errant shot reverted possession to MEHS and Hermann was fouled on a drive. He hit the first free throw to tie the score at 93-93, but a lane violation took the next one away and Barrow missed a desperation shot at the buzzer.
Tied at 93-93 the third overtime started with Barrow missing two shots and MEHS’ Alstrom driving for a 95-93 lead.
Barrow junior Hunter Wilhelm tied the game on a rebound score and MEHS’ Andrew hit again from the arc for a 98-95 lead with two minutes to play.
Multiple misses by Barrow under tough pressure from MEHS finally resulted in a basket as junior Darren Salazar scored with under a minute remaining to trail 98-97. MEHS would miss two free throws, but a scramble on the rebound went out of bounds to the Braves. Herrmann would be fouled with 21 seconds left and missed the first shot, and another violation on the second gave the ball to Barrow.
Racing down court the Whalers stumbled, recovered the ball, then had a shot blocked by MEHS junior Gordon Lie (from Kiana), found the loose ball again and called timeout.
With 6.5 seconds remaining to play, Barrow ran into the full strength of the Mt. Edgecumbe defense and a forced loose ball was chased by diving bodies as the final buzzer sounded with the Braves on top 98-97.
“I think I sweated 10 pounds out in that game,” MEHS coach Vest said. “I try to stay composed. I preach composure to these guys. No matter what I believe in our style of basketball, we are capable of going on runs at any time of the game. And we are big believers that if we just stay true to our game that we will have that run and break through… I am confident in their ability to keep finding a way to fight, nobody ever quits, no matter if we are down 10 or 20 or whatever. We just try to find a way to win.”
Vest, originally from Kenai, had his old high school coach Ken Felchle and current Kenai coach Nolan Rose, who Vest played against in high school, and the Kardinals players cheering the Braves as well.
“That was surreal,” Vest said. “They were hugging me after the game and we were jumping up and down. To have them cheering and supporting us was a really cool moment.”
MEHS played Barrow in January. The Braves led big early, but the Whalers came back and won 83-73.
“We didn't make the adjustments then,” Vest said. “So in our pregame talk, we discussed that and our defensive game plan. We had more than one thing to go to, and if needed, we would adjust and go to these backup plans. That is kind of what we did in the second half. I just think it says everything about their ability to adapt, their ability, to buy into the team and then just playing for one another. Trusting one another. It’s not just one man’s job. For us to adjust from the first half to the second says everything about our team’s willingness to adapt and willingness to just keep finding a way. I tell them that all the time.”
The first quarter on Saturday started and ended in a flurry of action that saw both teams total 16 points. MEHS’ Herrmann and Goldsberry both had a made basket from the arc and one closer in, Alstrom scored on a break, and Gundersen hit from the arc and the line. Barrows A. Fruean put on a show with 14 points including two makes from the arc and senior Blade Donovan hit the other Whalers basket.
The second quarter was more of the same with Barrow taking a 41-34 edge into halftime. MEHS’ Alstrom had seven points in the stanza, Herrmann two free throws and a basket, Goldsberry a make from the arc, and Andrew and Gundersen a score. Barrow’s A Fruean had two more shots past the arc, four closer in - including two dunks - and a free throw. The Whalers Adams and Tivao added a basket.
“There were a few times where I thought it might go the other way,” Gundersen said. “But you have to fight through adversity and get it done… I have been playing basketball for a long time. Actually, Lennie Brandell (MEHS 2025) told me to go to Edgecumbe. When I got there I liked the atmosphere, the people, the basketball was good and I kind of just fell in love with it. Now to get a championship… All my family and friends texted me. My phone is blowing up. It’s a good feeling. I don’t know how to explain it. Edgecumbe is special. We are all from different parts of Alaska and we just create good bonds that we can’t break.”
Barrow’s A. Fruean would be slowed by fouls in the second half before exiting while Herrmann kept getting quicker, faster and stronger and his “family, his roommates, his school mates” had his back and played just as hard, earning the Mt. Edgecumbe High School boys basketball team their first-ever state championship.
“The intensity was just crazy,” Goldsberry said. “I just knew that everybody had to just play how they play, locked in, play defense and just play basketball. That’s it. Man, this is history. The first time we have ever won a state championship ever. My dad (LieuDell Goldsberry) played at Mt. Edgecumbe, but he was only a region champ, not a state champ like me.”
While the game seemed to last from Saturday into Sunday, in real time it ran through 44 minutes of game action, not counting timeouts and fouls, plus a halftime, then celebrations, net cuttings and awards.
“Hopefully I can inspire other kids from Golovin to go to Edgecumbe and get an enriched educational experience,” MEHS senior Donald Olson (from Golovin) said. “And also play basketball at the same time. It was surreal to be on this team with these guys. We worked hard. To be honest, I had little faith when we were down, but we came through somehow.”
Goldsberry led MEHS with 26 points, Herrmann added 24, Alstrom 18, Gundersen 17, Andrew eight and Sandoval five. The Braves made 11 three-point shots, 24 closer in and 17-29 at the charity stripe. Of the Braves 18 fouls, five apiece ended game time for Goldsberry and Sandoval.
A. Fruean led Barrow with a game-high 46 points, Tivao added 18, L. Fruean 10, B. Donovan seven, L. Fruean, Wilhelm and Adams four each, freshman Trevor Donovan and junior Darren Salazar two apiece. The Whalers made seven shots past the arc, 33 closer in and 10-13 from the line. Of the Whalers' 22 fouls, five apiece ended play for A. Fruean and B. Donovan.
MEHS’ Herrmann and Barrow’s A. Fruean were selected Players of the Game.
MEHS coach Vest noted that Herrmann plays amazing defense, consistently pushes the action, finds his teammate and scores the ball at will.
“Guy (Goldsberry) stepped up and hit huge shots in crunch time,” Coach Vest said. “He struggled a bit with his outside shooting this week. We talked before the game and said, ‘Hey, it's going to come. The time's going to come and you're going to blow the lid off of that thing. And his shots in that fourth quarter to tie the game up, to get us back even was huge. Xavier Gundersen made great plays down the stretch, handled the basketball, and played very smart. Eldon Andrew came in off the bench. Huge impact, you know, on both sides of the ball. Thank you, sir. Good luck, guys. Huge impact on both sides of the ball. Defensively hitting some amazing threes and overtimes for a guy to come in off the bench and have that impact late in a championship game was huge. And same with Gordon Lee. Came in, had some monster blocks and defensive rebounds. Those are the plays that don't show up in a stat sheet, but absolutely contributed to us winning that basketball game.”
For Vest, looking into the stands and seeing parents and community members from around the state cheering for the Braves is what attracts him to Mt. Edgecumbe.
“I think it is amazing,” he said. “I think that's one of my favorite parts about the team is the diversity, the culmination of everybody's cultures and just coming together and the community that Mount Edgecombe has throughout the state of Alaska. I mean it's really a special thing to be a part of and that's what I've realized and I'm happy to be a part of it and to be part of that community. It is beautiful to look up in the stands and see that maroon and know that they are rocking with us.”
MT. EDGECUMBE 98, BARROW 97
MEHS 16 18 17 26 9 7 5 - 98
BARROW 16 25 19 17 9 7 4 - 97
MEHS had been a runner-up in 1959 to Lathrop after winning the Region V championship. The Braves battled through tough Southeast region play as a member of the Juneau-Douglas, Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell, Petersburg conference until exiting that “A” conference in 1979 to the “B” conference that included Metlakatla, Haines, Hoonah, Skagway and Yakutat. That league morphed to 3A and MEHS, Metlakatla, Wrangell, Petersburg, Craig and Haines battled with the Braves earning region titles in 1986, ’87, ’93, 2005, ’11 - defeated JDHS in a crossover region championship as well - ’13, ’18 - defeated JDHS again in crossover - ’20, ’21, ’24 and ’26. They were state runner-up to Nome in 2024.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
