There are five Haines and Klukwan teams competing in the Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau this week, putting up tough competition for the other couple dozen teams from other small towns and villages in Southeast Alaska.
It’s the first time in more than a decade that a women’s team from Haines has competed in the tournament, which is sponsored by the Juneau Lion’s Club. The women won their first game Tuesday against Hoonah, the reigning champs from last year, with a final score of 41-31. They’ll face Craig Thursday. The Haines roster includes top scorers Sarah Elliot, Alisa Beske and Sam Clay.
The men’s games are divided into three brackets based on age. The B bracket includes younger men, usually between the ages of 18 and 32. The C bracket is for players 32 and older. And the Master’s bracket includes those 42 and up.
The Haines team in the men’s B Bracket knocked down Kake Sunday and 2015 champs Hydaburg on Monday. Its next game is Thursday against Angoon. The B team’s Monday game versus Hydaburg included 45 points from player Kyle Fossman for a final score of 107-100. Returning players on the roster include Cody Hotch, Ryan Harms, and Orion Falvey.
Coach Ed Hotch’s Klukwan team in the B bracket lost to Wrangell Sunday by two points, but won against Yakutat Tuesday 75-64. Its next game is tonight at 9 p.m.
Stuart DeWitt, Andrew Friske and Jason Shull are a few of the returning players on the Klukwan C team. They lost to Hoonah 97-92 Sunday but made a comeback Tuesday, beating Yakutat in another close game, 98-92. They play tonight against Angoon.
The Klukwan Masters team includes Danny Thomas, Chris Wassman and Dan and Ed Hotch. They were overtaken by Hoonah Monday with a score of 83-48. They were scheduled to play again this afternoon.
KHNS will have updates on Gold Medal for the rest of the week.