The Juneau Monstarz Danielle Larson, Letasha Heumann, Joy Ribao, Nani Weimer, Mariah Simpkins, Megan Buchmeier, Maria Weyrach, Michaela Demmert and coach Taylor Larson stand together with their champion sweatshirts and trophy after taking the top spot in the women’s division of the Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational. (Courtesy Photo | Andrew Friske)

The Juneau Monstarz Danielle Larson, Letasha Heumann, Joy Ribao, Nani Weimer, Mariah Simpkins, Megan Buchmeier, Maria Weyrach, Michaela Demmert and coach Taylor Larson stand together with their champion sweatshirts and trophy after taking the top spot in the women’s division of the Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational. (Courtesy Photo | Andrew Friske)

Edgecumbe of glory: Juneau women find redemption at annual tournament

New-to-town MVP three-peats

A year after the narrowest loss possible, Juneau women stormed their way to the No. 1 spot in the Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational tournament.

The team, which goes by the “Space Jam”-inspired Monstarz moniker, lost the title game at last year’s tournament 46-45 to Southeast Thunder. Saturday, they topped the Thunder 57-31 to win the women’s championship at the annual invitational held at the Sitka high school.

“It was nice to have redemption,” said team member Danielle Larson in a phone interview. “It was a good team win, and we have a really fun team. We’ve been playing together up to 10 years in some cases.”

[Juneau women come in second at Edgecumbe Invite]

Despite the longstanding chemistry, a newcomer was a big part of the Monstarz win in the annual invitational. Mariah Simpkins, who moved to Juneau this summer, was named woman’s division MVP in the tournament, which is for adults and features much of the same talent that will come to Juneau for the annual Gold Medal tournament next month.

Mariah Simpkins holds her MVP award at the Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational. The Juneau Monstarz won the women’s division championship and Simpkins earned the top individual honor. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Monstarz)

Mariah Simpkins holds her MVP award at the Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational. The Juneau Monstarz won the women’s division championship and Simpkins earned the top individual honor. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Monstarz)

“I’ve always played against this team,” Simpkins said in a phone interview of the Monstarz. “It was bittersweet.”

Simpkins was previously part of the Southeast Thunder squad, which includes women from Sitka, Metlakatla and Ketchikan. This year’s tournament win gives her three-straight Mt. Edgecumbe championships.

While she took home top individual honors, Simpkins was far from the Monstarz only standout.

Nani Weimer and Larson were each named to the all-tournament team.

Mariah Simpkins, Danielle Larson and Nani Weimer hold their all-tournament plaques after the Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Monstarz)

Mariah Simpkins, Danielle Larson and Nani Weimer hold their all-tournament plaques after the Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Monstarz)

Larson and Simpkins said good team defense and turning turnovers into points was a big part of the championship run that included double-digit victories over Anchorage, 51-38; and Petersburg, 72-45.

“Our defense led to our offense,” Simpkins said.

Efficient three-point shooting was also part of the championship-winning formula.

“Our game against Petersburg was really good,” Larson said. “Nani had seven threes. Mariah, I think had five threes.”

Simpkins said she and Weimer are huge fans of Golden State point guard Steph Curry and call themselves “the Splash Sisters” in reference to the popular nickname for Curry and his backcourt partner Klay Thompson.

While the 26-point margin of victory looks lopsided, Larson said the game never seemed totally out of reach for Southeast Thunder.

“We thought that they could get back in the game at any time,” she said. “It sounds like a much bigger win than it was. We don’t like to let down until the game’s over. I think at points we didn’t realize how many we were up.”

All-tournament teams and division championships

Hydaburg beat Metlakatla 105-83 to win the men’s open championship. Vinny Edenshaw scored 43 for Metlakatla and was named the division MVP.

In the men’s 37+ division, Wrangell beat Metlakatla 83-65 in the championship game. Division MVP was Wrangell’s Dave Clarke.

In the men’s masters division, Fairbanks needed overtime to secure a 94-89 win over Klawock. Brent Stranger of Fairbanks was division MVP.

• Contact reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.


• Contact reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt


More in Sports

Juneau’s two high school volleyball teams, Thunder Mountain High School and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, face off last Saturday at TMHS as they go through polar opposite seasons this year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s volleyball teams going in opposite directions entering tournament play

TMHS is undefeated, JDHS winless as teams begin three-day Sitka competition.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Ida Meyer, right, wins the Sitka Invitational by a fraction of a second in front of Sitka junior Clare Mullin on Saturday. (James Poulson / Sitka Sentinel)
JDHS girls, boys crush Sitka course

Largest field in Southeast history sees Crimson Bears on top

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Athletes compete in a swim event Saturday afternoon at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center.
Records broken at weekend high school swim meet in Juneau

JDHS and TMHS coaches share optimism as season progresses.

Zack Bursell, left, stands with father John, right, after winning the Equinox Marathon in Fairbanks, Saturday, Sept. 16. (Photo courtesy Jamie Bursell)
Juneau’s Zack Bursell wins Equinox Marathon

Local runner finishes more than seven minutes ahead of runner-up at Fairbanks race

Tom Thompson and Klas Stolpe at the start of the 44-mile solo ultra during the 40th Annual Klondike Road Relay, Saturday, Sept. 9. Stolpe was running as team No One Fights Alone in support of his brother James who is fighting cancer. (Photo by Tom Thompson)
No one fights alone on the Klondike Road Relay

A victorious 44-mile solo quest among 1,800 participants at 40th annual Skagway-to-Whitehorse race

Colony High School running back Bryce Guzman (5) looks for room to run in a downpour during Friday night’s game against the Juneau Huskies at Adair-Kennedy Field. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Huskies lose 19-6 defensive struggle to Colony in title game rematch

Juneau takes early lead at home, but Colony rallies during occasionally heavy rain Friday night.

Runners ascend the old ski hill on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the start of the 2015 Equinox Marathon. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Alaska Science Forum: Running over the same old ground

Oh my, it’s that time again. The Equinox Marathon starts with a… Continue reading

What do telemarketers do during the weekend? (Photo by Jeff Lund)
I Went to the Woods: Do telemarketers hunt for something besides human prey?

It’s Sam calling… As I discussed the critical moment at which the… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School players and spectators celebrate as the Falcons score the winning point to prevail in a five-set series over Ketchikan High School on Saturday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A drama-filled weekend as Juneau’s volleyball teams continue contrasting seasons

TMHS prevails in toughest game yet to stay undefeated; JDHS puts up fight seeking first win.

Most Read