Braves topple Wolves in final Sitka bragging rights battle in state semifinals
- Klas Stolpe
- 11 hours ago
- 6 min read
Mt. Edgecumbe outlasts Sitka High 56-50 in another classic between the two
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
In a clash of the two most evenly matched programs in 3A boys basketball, the Mt. Edgecumbe Braves defeated their home town rival Sitka Wolves 56-50 on Thursday, in a semifinal at the March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage.
Two of the state’s best players would also face off as Mt. Edgecumbe 5’10” junior guard Kaden Herrmann (of Koliganek) and Sitka 6’5” senior center Trey Johnson would lead their teams with 26 and 17 points, respectively, and half again as many rebounds, while also finding time to defend each other when called upon.
Johnson struck first, blocking a Herrmann shot that resulted in a shot past the arc on the other end by Sitka junior Josh Partido. A Johnson rebound on the next missed MEHS shot gave Sitka junior Colton McGraw a jump shot for a 5-0 lead.
Herrmann continued to be aggressive and was awarded a free throw and then answered a shot by Sitka senior Brett Ross with a drive for a hoop and harm, completing the three-point play to draw the Braves to within 7-4.
MEHS junior Guy Goldsberry (Nome) hit two baskets in a row for an 8-7 lead but Sitka’s Johnson and freshman Koen Hirai closed out the quarter with scores for an 11-8 advantage.
MEHS opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run on two scores by Herrmann and one apiece from senior Elden Andrew (New Stuyahok) and junior Xavier Gundersen (Sand Point) to lead 16-11. Sitka didn’t blink. They closed out the quarter with a basket by senior Shane Tincher, two in a row from Johnson, a free-throw from Ross and another Johnson score inside. And with seconds left, McGraw stole a ball and hit a three-point shot at the buzzer to give the Wolves a 23-16 halftime lead.
The Wolves opened the second half with a shot past the arc by McGraw and were answered by Braves senior Carlos Sandoval (Hoonah) for a 26-18 score. Sitka’s Johnson hit two free throws and MEHS’ Herrmann answered with a basket and drew McGraw’s second foul. McGraw would be hit with his third foul seconds later.
MEHS’ Herrmann scored on a rebound and then on a layup with an assist by Gundersen, and Gundersen scored with an assist by Herrmann to trail 28-26 with under four minutes to play in the stanza.
Sitka’s Tincher hit on a drive and junior Shane Carlos added a free throw for a 31-26 lead.
MEHS’ Herrmann moved down into the post to battled defensively against Sitka’s Johnson and vice versa: Johnson moved out on the perimeter to defend Herrmann.
Herrmann would get a rebound over Johnson and start a fast break, passing to Andrew for a score and pulling to 31-30. Sitka’s Johnson hit a free throw, blocked a shot on the other end and scored again for a 34-30 lead.
With 8.7 seconds left in the third quarter MEHS’ Goldsberry hit one of two free throws to close to 34-31.
MEHS opened the fourth quarter on baskets by Gundersen and Goldsberry, both off assists by Herrmann to take a 35-34 lead. Sitka’s Johnson scored and was fouled to retake the lead 36-35 but missing the free throw.
MEHS’ Gundersen rebounded the shot and outlet the ball to Herrmann, who drove inside for a 37-36 lead. Herrmann would add a free throw after a failed Sitka possession.
With under four minutes to play, Gundersen would score and be fouled on a rebound for an old-fashioned three-point play and then Herrmann rebounded a Sitka miss and hit Gundersen for a fast break layup and a 43-36 lead.
Sitka’s Ross scored on a hard drive, but MEHS’ Goldsberry was fouled on a shot from the arc and made two of the three free throws for a 45-38 lead with three minutes left to play.
Sitka’s McGraw got loose on the arc to bury his third three-pointer of the game to trail 45-41 with two minutes left.
Sitka would need to foul to gain possession and MEHS’ Herrmann hit a pair from the line for 47-41. Sitka’s Ross drew a trip to the line and hit one of two to trail 47-42.
Herrmann was fouled again and hit two for a 49-42 lead with 1:24 to play. Sitka’s Tincher answered with two free throws to trail 49-44.
MEHS junior Royce Alstrom (Anchorage) hit two free throws for a 51-44 lead with 1:13 to play. Sitka’s Carlos answered from the arc to trail 51-47 with 42 seconds left.
MEHS’ Herrmann went one of two from the line and Sitka’s Partido did the same to trail 52-48 with 26 seconds left.
MEHS’ Herrmann would close out the Braves scoring with four free throws for a 56-48 lead with 12 seconds left - two of which put Sitka’s McGraw out of the game.
Sitka’s Johnson closed out the Wolves points with a score just before the buzzer to trail 56-50 for the final.
Player of the Game selections went to MEHS’ Herrmann and Sitka’s Johnson.
Herrmann scored 26 for MEHS, Gundersen added 11, Goldsberry nine, Andrew six, Alstrom and Sandoval two apiece. The Braves made no three-point shots, made 19 from closer in and shot 18-25 at the line. MEHS had 17 fouls, five put Alstrom out of the game.
Johnson led Sitka with 17 points, McGraw had 11, Ross and Tincher six apiece, Carlos and Partido four apiece and Koen Hirai two. The Wolves made five shots past the arc, 13 closer in and 9-15 from the line. The Wolves had 18 fouls, five of which put McGraw out of the game.
Mt. Edgecumbe advances to play #3 Barrow, a 63-50 semifinal winner over Nome, in the 3A boys championship game at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Sitka plays Nome in the 3rd/5th-place game at 8 a.m. Saturday. MEHS defeated #8 Houston 79-35 on Wednesday and #4 Sitka defeated #5 Delta 53-42. Nome defeated #7 Valdez 73-29 on Wednesday and Barrow defeated #6 Kenai 59-50.
The MEHS Lady Braves lost their second game on Thursday, 54-50 to the Delta Lady Huskies and are out of the tournament. MEHS lost to Kenai on Wednesday 43-40. Delta plays in the fourth/sixth-place game at 11 a.m. Friday against #8 Kotzebue, a 53-51 elimination game winner over #5 Galena on Thursday. Galena opened the tournament with a 66-54 loss to #4 Grace Christian, Kotzebue opened with a 71-20 loss to #1 Barrow. Delta opened with a 59-28 loss to #2 Monroe.
Barrow defeated Grace Christian 50-39 on Thursday to earn the championship game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday against Monroe, a 52-32 winner over Kenai on Thursday. Grace and Kenai play in the third/fifth-place game at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
4A SCHEDULE
The #8 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys will play at 9:30 a.m. Friday in the consolation bracket semifinal against #4 Service, a 69-67 loser to #5 South Anchorage on Wednesday. JDHS lost to #1 West Valley 71-48. West Valley faces South at 6:15 p.m. Friday in a winners-bracket semifinal.
The other consolation bracket semifinal features #7 Wasilla, an 80-52 loser to #2 Grace Christian, playing #6 Dimond, a 55-50 loser to #3 Lathrop. Grace and Lathrop play in the 7:45 p.m. winners bracket semifinal Friday.
The JDHS Crimson Bears girls play at 12:30 p.m. Friday in a consolation bracket semifinal against #3 Wasilla, a 63-50 loser to #6 Service on Wednesday. #7 JDHS lost to Bartlett 53-34. Bartlett and Service play in a winners-bracket semifinal at 4:45 p.m. Friday.
The other consolation bracket semifinal features #8 North Pole, a 79-42 loser to Mountain City Christian Academy, and #5 West Anchorage, a 59-47 loser to #4 Colony. MCCA and Colony play in a winners-bracket semifinal at 3:15 p.m. Friday.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
