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The Metlakatla High School girls basketball team withstood a last second push by Wrangell to earn a 51-47 Region V tournament win Thursday and a berth in the championship game on Friday.
With 10 seconds remaining in the game and nursing a 49-47 lead MisChiefs senior Bree Chavez tied up a Lady Wolves inbounds pass for a jump ball and possession.
Metlakatla inbounded from halfcourt to Chavez who scored at the buzzer.
“We started off really, really well,” Metlakatla coach Julian Russell said. “One of the best starts we have had all year long. But once in a while we get in that third quarter and have a let down and we did today. But Wrangell is really good and they battled back. I was really proud of us for coming back and hanging on for that victory. We’ve had times when it was really close and we had given up a lead and we collapse a little and get down on ourselves. Today we never did it, never wavered, stuck with the plan, and pulled out a close victory. We did everything I could ask of the girls.”
Metlakatla started the game with an 11-2 advantage on baskets by Chavez, junior Ryley Booth, junior Kennedy Cook, senior Alysia Nelson-Boyd and a single free throw from Booth.
Wrangell hit just a pair of free throws by senior Kiara Harrison.
Metlakatla kept the pressure on for a 27-13 lead at the half.
In the third quarter Wrangell started to ride Harrison inside and the senior helped the Lady Wolves put a 15-5 run on the score clock, accounting for 13 of the points, and pulling to five points, 32-28, at the stanza’s end.
“It was tough,” Metlakatla junior Kennedy Cook said of trying to guard Harrison. “She is really good and tall.”
Cook would hold her own, grabbing 10 rebounds in the game and going 8-9 at the free throw line including five in the fourth quarter.
“We had to watch our turnovers and fouls,” Cook said. “This is my first time making all of my free throws. I’m not really the best free throw shooter. It was surprising.”
Metlakatla’s Cook and Wrangell’s Harrison exchanged scores to start the final stanza and Wrangell pulled to 36-33 on a bank shot by junior Kayla Meissner.
After a pair of Cook free throws Wrangell’s Harrison notched a shot off glass, sophomore Aubrey Wynne scored on a fast break and the Lady Wolves were within one point, 38-37.
The two sides traded baskets through the stanza and Harrison hit a tough turn-a-round to pull the Lady Wolves to two points, 47-45.
Metlakatla’s Cook answered for the 49-45 lead and Wrangell sophomore Addy Andrews put the Lady Wolves final bucket in with 39 seconds remaining.
“It’s a tough one but I am proud of our girls,” Wrangell coach Christina Good said. “We played hard, fought back, played all the way through to the end and we almost got a W today but, you know what, sometimes it just doesn’t fall our way. But it was great, all the girls played well together. We had a good first and second half. I was really proud of them.”
“We pride ourselves on our defense,” Good said. “And that’s what wins ball games. We just came up short on a couple of possessions… now we just have to get back into it. We are not giving up. We are going to be back there. We are going to state.”
Cook led Metlakatla with 18 points, Booth added 14, Chavez 13, and seniors Alysia Nelson-Boyd, Randi Schleusner and Chloe Guthrie two each.
The MisChiefs hit 12-24 at the free throw line, Wrangell hit 17-21.
Harrison led Wrangell with a game-high 33 points, juniors Kayla and Mindy Meissner four apiece, freshman Christina Johnson, Andrews and Wynne two each.
Metlakatla advances to face Craig in the championship game Friday at 3 p.m.
Wrangell will play an elimination game at 8:00 a.m. Friday against the winner of Petersburg/Haines elimination contest Thursday.
