Haines Glacier Bears defeated by Metlakatla in last home games, but will advance to regionals

The Haines Glacier Bears basketball teams played Metlakatla in their last home games of the season over the weekend (Feb 25-26). Although both girls and boys teams didn’t win, the competition was strong and spirits remained high, as Haines celebrated its senior athletes’ last games. And both teams will advance to the regional competition in Ketchikan next week, March 9-12. 

The last home games for the Haines Glacier Bears brought out an excited crowd to cheer on the athletes, buoyed by the Haines cheer team and pep band, which included students and staff musicians.

The Glacier Bears and Lady Bears played strong games, but were ultimately defeated by the Metlakatla Chiefs and Miss Chiefs by double digits Friday and Saturday nights. The boys were defeated 49-61 Friday night and 41-59 on Saturday night. The Lady Bears lost 28-48 on Friday night and 41-56 on Saturday. But both teams will still advance next week to the regional finals in Ketchikan. 

It was a tough loss, but welcome competition for Haines players. Throughout the pandemic, games were canceled and travel and logistics were difficult. But players grew and improved at their sport, says Haines Girls’ Basketball Coach Coleman Stanford.

“We’ve had this group, mostly this whole group together for three years now, you know, sophomores and freshmen together were the majority of the team” Stanford said. “And we’ve grown a lot. And headed into regionals we’re pretty excited. We didn’t win tonight, but we definitely felt some momentum tonight, and we’re gonna take that into practice and do good things when we get down to Ketchikan.”

Before Saturday’s games, the teams honored seniors at their last home games. Haines senior Sadie Anderson called it bittersweet, saying she’ll miss playing with the team, but is excited to compete in regionals. 

“These girls aren’t my team, they’re my family,” Anderson said. “And I am so lucky to have them. They are there through everything. We went through one game last year because of COVID, and it was bad but we made it the best. And this year we’re coming back strong and all the teams are talking about us and it feels good. (Corinne: What do they say?) The underdogs are coming back!”

Haines Lady Bears and Glacier Bears are both seeded fourth going into the regional tournament. Both teams will first play Craig, then take on Metlakatla Chiefs and Miss Chiefs again, who are both seeded first. 

Haines boys coach Tyler Swinton says despite the losses, he’s urging the team to stay positive for that rematch. 

“The Mets (Metlakatla) are a tough team'” Swinton said. “The positives from it are we know where we need to be, we just have to go out there and do it…so we gotta work hard this week, get better at the things we didn’t do so well, and hopefully take that to the tournament and surprise some people.”

Swinton says at least half the boys team contracted COVID this season during the omicron surge, but came back and played well. 

“Any bump in the road, it only makes the team better if they’re ready to take that challenge on. And I’m hoping that this little speed bump with these two games won’t knock their confidence down because they’re a good team and a good bunch of boys, and going into the conference tournament if they have some confidence they can do some things.”

Not only will basketball players be traveling to regionals, but also the Haines cheer team and pep band to rally them.

Haines senior Natalie Jobbins played basketball but switched this season to do both cheer and play drums in the pep band. 

“It’s definitely emotional knowing this is the end,” Jobbins said. “But it’s also a happy feeling because we had fun, and memories have been made, and those won’t leave.”

Between quarters, Jobbins runs up the bleachers to the full drum kit set up at the top to play the rhythm for the pep band. 

And it’s not quite the end – Haines’ cheer team and pep band will also join the athletes in playing in regionals in Ketchikan March 9-12. The top two teams will go to the state championship in Anchorage March 16-19.