Wednesday Gold Medal elimination day sends eight teams out of tournament

Hydaburg & Hoonah (B), Angoon & Yakutat (C), Mt. Edgecumbe (A), Kake & Hoonah (W) and Angoon (M) all lose

This year's Gold Medal memorial presentation on Wednesday, March 25, at the Juneau Lions Club 77th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé George Houston Gymnasium featured white paper bags with loved ones' names written on them illuminated by lights inside. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

By Klas Stolpe  

Juneau Independent

Wednesday’s 77th annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament was an elimination day. That means if teams lose, they don’t have to go home but they can’t play in the tournament anymore this year.

Eight quality teams fell in the fourth day of Gold Medal action.

The day started with a classic Angoon/Hydaburg classic B-style matchup, with Angoon getting 11 three-point shots and Hydaburg 10. Angoon’s Aquino Brinson closed out the third quarter with a shot past the arc and then on a turnover, Brinson was double-teamed and teammate Beebucks Kookesh cut back door, missed a shot, but rebounded for a cutback score and a 66-58 lead. That lead evaporated in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, as Hydaburg opened with an 11-2 run behind two shots past the arc by Jaren Carl, one from Vinnie Edenshaw and a basket inside by Trevor Olsen off an Edenshaw assist. Edenshaw then drove for a score and a 71-70 lead. Angoon came back with two shots past the arc by Clayton Edwin and regained the lead at 80-75 with two minutes left and closed out the game 85-77.

Hydaburg's Vinnie Edenshaw is defended by Angoon's Aquino Brinson during their B bracket elimination game on Wednesday, March 25, at the Juneau Lions Club 77th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé George Houston Gymnasium. Angoon won 85-77. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

Kake then nipped Angoon 71-69 behind 30 points from Rudy Bean — and despite giving up a 10-point lead late in the game. Angoon tied the game late, Kake took a two-point advantage, and Angoon had a last-second shot miss as Kake’s defense limited a good look for a score. Angoon was led by 14 points from Michael Pitka, 13 from John Croasmun JR and 11 from Guy Hunter. Kake added 14 points from Derek Knudsen and 10 from Shea Jackson.

Not to be outdone for a thriller, the boys of FILCOM toppled Mt. Edgecumbe 100-91 in A bracket double-overtime behind 32 points from Samuel Lockhart and 24 points from Brady Caranadang. MTE had 32 points from Jamal Alstrom. Tied at 75-75, the first extra five minutes featured an opening free throw by FILCOM’s Bryce Swofford and was answered by a drive by MTE’s Tyrell Cromer. The two teams exchanged baskets, with MTE pulling out to an 80-77 lead with a behind the arc shot by Cromer. FILCOM tied the score with two free throws by Carandang and a drive by Alwen Carrillo. A loose ball scramble twice went to MTE and with 2.1 seconds left, Jamal Alstrom scored and was fouled for an old-fashioned three-point play and an 83-80 lead. A timeout gave FILCOM the ball at the side and Carandang hit a long-distance jumper to tie the game at 83-83 as the buzzer rang. Swofford kick-started FILCOM in the second extra five minutes with a rebound score and a free throw. MTE’s Jaylin Prince hit a free throw and missed the next. FILCOM’s Swofford rebounded and started a fast break basket by Carandang to push the score to 88-84. MTE’s Alstrom hit from the arc to pull to 88-87, but a free throw by FILCOM’s Lockhart and his swish past the arc pushed the advantage to 92-87. MTE would be forced to foul down the stretch and FILCOM’s Lockhart, Carandang and Phillip Gonzalez all hit a pair from the line to secure the win.

Gold Medal fans cheer on their team during elimination games on Wednesday, March 25, at the Juneau Lions Club 77th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

The second half of the day saw Angoon defeat Kake 56-48 behind 14 points from Tasha Heumann, Kiara Kookesh added 13, Mary Johnson 11 and Cheyenne Kookesh 10. Kake’s Katie Jackson scored a game-high 24 points in the elimination game loss.

Sitka defeated Angoon 73-48 in their Masters bracket elimination game behind 22 points from Jeremy Plank, Efren Arce added 17 and Jimmie Jensen 14. Angoon’s Levi Johnson scored 17.

Sitka's Jimmie Jensen (center) battles for a rebound with Angoon's Travis See (34) and Levi Johnson (21) during their Masters bracket elimination game on Wednesday, March 25, at the Juneau Lions Club 77th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé George Houston Gymnasium. Sitka won 73-48. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

Metlakatla toppled Yakutat 65-53 in their C bracket elimination game behind 27 points from Mace Hayward and Clifton Guthrie added 17. Yakutat was led by 18 points from Adam Johnson.

Metlakatla also won their Womens bracket elimination game 66 - 32 over Hoonah behind 17 points from Alexis Russell 17 and 14 from Ryley Booth.  Hoonah’s Jonelle Staveland scored 13 and Antonia Fogg 10.

In the nightcap game Kake jumped out to an 18-3 lead against Hoonah and ran away with a 71-45 win behind a game-high 29 points from Ethan Kadake. Hoonah was led by 13 points from Oroin Dybdahl and 12 from Samuel Lamebull.

Kake's Rudy Bean helps Angoon's Curtis Lane up during Kake's 71-69 C bracket elimination game win over Angoon on Wednesday, March 25, at the Juneau Lions Club 77th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

B - Angoon 85 (2-1), Hydaburg 77  (1-2) eliminated

Angoon 25 19 24 17 — 85

Hydaburg 20 13 25 19 — 77

Angoon — Tajaun Jamestown 22, Aquino Brinson 20, Jonathan Jack-Nixon 14, Isaiah Nelson 9, Clayton Edwin 6, Christian Nelson 4, Gregory Bennum 4, Duncan O’Brien 4, Beebucks Kookesh 2. 18 2PT / 11 3PT / 14-21 FT / 9 fouls - C. Nelson 3.

Hydaburg  — Vinnie Edenshaw 28, Jaren Carl 22, Jessie Louie 16, Greg Frisby 7, Trevor Olsen 4. 17 2PT / 10 3PT / 10-11 FT / 17 fouls - Carl 5, Frisby 4.

C - Kake 71 (1-1), Angoon 69 (0-2) eliminated

Kake 15 25 14 17 — 71

Angoon 20 8 19 22 — 69

Kake — Rudy Bean 30, Derek Knudsen 14, Shea Jackson 10, Dean Cavanaugh 8, Travis Aceveda 4, Kelly Brown 3, Trevor Rostad 2. 17 2PT / 9 3PT / 5-15 FT / 11 fouls - Rostad 2, Bean 2, Aceveda 2, Jackson 2.

Angoon — Michael Pitka 14, John Croasmun JR 13, Guy Hunter 11, Logan Lee 9, Curtis Lane 9, Michael Howard 7, Thomas Bell 6.  11 2PT / 11 3PT / 14-16 FT / 15 fouls - Croasmun JR 4, Pitka 3, Lane 3.

FILCOM's Alwen Carrillo (3) shoots under pressure from Mt. Edgecumbe's Tyrell Cromer (34) during their 100-91 double overtime A bracket elimination game win on Wednesday, March 25, at the Juneau Lions Club 77th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

A - FILCOM 100 (1-1), Mt. Edgecumbe 91 (0-2) eliminated

Filcom 21 19 18 17 8 17 — 100

Mt. Edge. 24 20 18 13 8 8 — 91

Filcom — Samuel Lockhart 32, Brady Carandang 24, Bryce Swofford 15, Alwen Carrillo 13, Sean Oliver 7, Phillip Gonzalez 4, Męki Toutaiolepo 4, Tony Yadao 1. 22 2PT / 12 3PT / 20-28 FT / 9 fouls - Swofford 3.

Mt. Edgecumbe — Jamal Alstrom 32, Tyrell Cromer 17, Jaylin Prince 14, Aaron Porter 12, Jake Friske 9, RJ Didrickson 5, Andrew Friske 2. 20 2PT / 15 3PT / 6-10 FT / 21 fouls - Alstrom 4, A. Friske 4, Porter 4, J. Friske 3.

W - Angoon 56 (1-1), Kake 48 (0-2) eliminated

Angoon 10 13 17 16 — 56

Kake 6 9 17 16 — 48

Angoon — Tasha Heumann 14, Kiara Kookesh 13, Mary Johnson 11, Cheyenne Kookesh 10, Frances Mills 4, Gabbi George Frank 2, Joylynn Tripi 2. 14 2PT / 4 3PT / 16-38 FT / 16 fouls - Johnson 4, George Frank 4, Heumann 3, Tripi 3.

Kake — Katie Jackson 24, Courtney James 9, Monica Ashenfelter 7, Brenda See-Williams 3, Talia Davis 2, Jordan Wagner 2. 10 2PT / 5 3PT / 13-21 FT / 24 fouls - Davis 5, Jackson 5, Ashenfelter 4, James 4.

Angoon's Tasha Heumann (32) defends Kake's Katie Jackson during Angoon's 56-48 Womens bracket elimination game on Wednesday, March 25, at the Juneau Lions Club 77th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

M - Sitka 73 (1-1), Angoon 48 (0-2) eliminated

Sitka 17 18 17 21 — 73

Angoon 8 19 11 10 — 48

Sitka — Jeremy Plank 22, Efren Arce 17, Jimmie Jensen 14, Justin Bagley 7, Thomas Anderson 7, David Johnson 2, Steve Edenshaw 2, Cliff Richter 2. 19 2PT / 8 3PT / 11-15 FT / 7 fouls - Anderson 2, Jensen 2, Plank 2.

Angoon — Levi Johnson 17, Ken Willard JR 9, Demetrius Johnson 6, Travis See 6, Al Tagaban 3, Kyle Johnson SR 3, Byron Jack JR 2, Nick Nelson 2. 11 2PT / 8 3PT / 2-4 FT / 13 fouls - K. Johnson SR 2, See 2, D. Johnson 2, Marti Fred 2.

C - Metlakatla 65 (1-1), Yakutat 53 (0-2) eliminated

Metlakatla 9 16 18 22 — 65

Yakutat 18 12 11 12 — 53

Metlakatla — Mace Hayward 27, Clifton Guthrie 17, Jason Enright 8, Chris Booth 6, Apollo Marsden 5, Dan Marsden 2. 19 2PT / 7 3PT / 6-11 FT / 12 fouls - Hayward 3, A. Marsden 3, Enright 3.

Yakutat — Adam Johnson 18, Stephen Adams 15, Sam Ferguson 10, Jay Sin 5, Ralph Wolfe 3, Jay Johnson 2. 11 2PT / 9 3PT / 4-9 FT / 12 fouls - Ferguson 3, Wolfe 3.

Hoonah's Janelle Staveland (14) drives under pressure from Metlakatla's Alexis Russell (12), Ryley Booth (5) and Sally King during their Womens bracket elimination game on Wednesday, March 25, at the Juneau Lions Club 77th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé George Houston Gymnasium. Metlakatla won 66-32. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

W - Metlakatla 66 (1-1), Hoonah 32 (0-2) eliminated

Metlakatla 17 22 17 10 — 66

Hoonah 9 6 7 10 — 32

Metlakatla — Alexis Russell 17, Ryley Booth 14, Drena Hayward 14, Ashley Huffine 8, Jezimay Ribs 4, Myra Guthrie 2, Talia Marsden 2, Vanessa Anniskett 2, Sally King 2, Disney Williams 1. 20 2PT / 4 3PT / 14-22 FT / 10 fouls - Booth 4.

Hoonah — Jonelle Staveland 13, Antonia Fogg 10, Larissa Dybdahl 5, Alona Howland 2, Krissy Bean 2. 6 2PT / 5 SPT / 5-13 FT / 14 fouls - Carlynn Caspersen 3, Dybdahl 3, Bean 3.

B - Kake 71 (2-1), Hoonah 45 (1-2) eliminated

Kake 18 20 23 10 — 71

Hoonah 5 15 9 16 — 45

Kake — Ethan Kadake 29, Keontay Jackson 9, Tristan Ross 9, Simon Friday 8, Shawn Merry 7, Dominic Ross 5, Bryce Knudsen 2, Jonah Davis 2. 18 2PT / 11 3PT / 2-4 FT / 16 fouls - Knudsen 3, Kadake 3, T. Ross 3.

Hoonah — Orion Dybdahl 13, Samuel Lamebull 12, Sean Oliver 7, Jaylin Prince 6, RJ Didrickson 6, Tyrell Cromer 1. 12 2PT / 3 3PT / 12-18 FT / 10 fouls - Malakai Nichols 4.

THURSDAY GAMES

9 a.m. - C bracket elimination, Kake (1-1) vs. Metlakatla (1-1)

10:30 a.m. - Womens elimination, Metlakatla (1-1) vs. Angoon (1-1)

Noon - B bracket elimination, Angoon (2-1) vs. Kake (2-1)

1:30 p.m. - Masters, Hoonah (1-0) vs. Klukwan (1-0)

4 p.m. - C bracket, Hydaburg (2-0) vs. Hoonah (2-0)

5:30 p.m. - A bracket, AML (1-0) vs. Metlakatla (1-0)

7 p.m. - B bracket, Haines (2-0) vs. Yakutat (2-0)

8:30 p.m. - Womens, Craig (1-0) vs. Yakutat (2-0)

Hoonah's Orion Dybdahl (21) shoots against Kake's Bryce Knudsen (20) and Tristan Ross (30) during their B bracket elimination game on Wednesday, March 25, at the Juneau Lions Club 77th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé George Houston Gymnasium. Kake won 71-45. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

SUNDAY SCORES

10:30 a.m. B bracket - Haines 98 (1-0), Klawock 58 (0-1)

12:00 p.m. Womens - Kake 62 (1-0), Metlakatla 46 (0-1)

1:30 p.m. B bracket - Hoonah 66 (1-0), Angoon 65 (0-1),

4:00 p.m. Masters - Hoonah 56 (1-0), Angoon 50 (0-1)

5:30 p.m. Womens - Yakutat 51 (1-0), Angoon 46 (0-1)

7:00 p.m. B bracket - Yakutat 65 (1-0), Metlakatla 58 (0-1)

MONDAY SCORES

9 a.m. B bracket - Hydaburg 82 (1-0), Kake 80 (0-1)

10:30 a.m. Womens - Craig 58 (1-0), Kake 50 (1-1)

12 p.m. C bracket - Hydaburg 94 (1-0), Yakutat 59 (0-1)

1:30 p.m. B bracket - Haines 79 (2-0), Hoonah 71 (1-1)

4 p.m. Womens - Yakutat 71 (2-0), Hoonah 26 (0-1)

5:30 p.m. Masters - Klukwan 86 (1-0), Sitka 66 (0-1)

7 p.m. B bracket - Yakutat 69 (2-0), Hydaburg 54 (1-1)

8:30 p.m. C bracket - Hoonah 82 (1-0), Angoon 51 (0-1)

TUESDAY SCORES

10:30 a.m. B bracket - Angoon 82 (1-1), Klawock 70 (0-2) eliminated

Noon C bracket - Hydaburg 95 (2-0), Kake 71 (0-1)

1:30 p.m. Open - AML 87 (1-0), Mt. Edgecumbe 79 (0-1)

4 p.m. C bracket - Hoonah 76 (2-0), Metlakatla 72 (0-1)

5 p.m. Open - Metlakatla 86 (1-0), FILCOM 75 (0-1)

7 p.m. B bracket - Kake 86 (1-1), Metlakatla 58 (0-2) eliminated

WEDNESDAY SCORES

9 a.m. B bracket - Angoon 85 (2-1) vs. Hydaburg 77 (1-2) eliminated

10:30 a.m. C bracket - Kake 71 (1-1), Angoon 69 (0-2) eliminated

Noon A bracket - 2 OT, FILCOM 100 (1-1), Mt. Edgecumbe 91 (0-2) eliminated

1:30 p.m. Womens - Angoon 56 (1-1), Kake 48 (0-2) eliminated

4 p.m. Masters - Sitka 73 (1-1), Angoon (0-2) eliminated

5:30 p.m. C bracket - Metlakatla 65 (1-1), Yakutat 53 (0-2) eliminated

7 p.m. Womens - Metlakatla 66 (1-1), Hoonah 32 (0-2) eliminated

8 p.m. B bracket - Kake 71 (2-1), Hoonah 45 (1-2) eliminated

Angoon fans react to a made three-point shot during Angoon's 85-77 B bracket elimination game win over Hydaburg on Wednesday, March 25, at the Juneau Lions Club 77th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.