Yakutat’s women’s team celebrates beating Haines in the Women’s final in the Juneau Lion’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Saturday, March 24, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Yakutat’s women’s team celebrates beating Haines in the Women’s final in the Juneau Lion’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Saturday, March 24, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Strong second half pushes Yakutat to first title since 2014

Haines entered Saturday’s Women’s Bracket championship game looking for its third title in a row. Yakutat had other ideas, pulling away in the second half en route to a 65-53 victory.

Rose Fraker, who scored 12 points Saturday and was named tournament MVP, said the victory carried even more importance than merely winning the game.

“This tournament meant a lot for us because Haines is a bigger community than any of the villages that participate,” Fraker said, “so it’s kind of a bigger deal that we came in and were able to beat them and bring it back to the village.”

This isn’t an underdog story, though, as Yakutat finished the week undefeated, winning its three games by an average of 11 points per game. They spread out the scoring between seven players Saturday, led by All-Tournament player Lorena Williams’ 19 points. Fran Daly, who also made the All-Tournament Team, led Haines with 23 points.

Williams scored eight of her points during a decisive third-quarter run that gave Yakutat the cushion it needed to win.

Yakutat, which had last won the bracket title in 2014, doubled up Haines in third-quarter scoring, 18-9. The run continued into the fourth quarter, when Yakutat built its lead to as many as 13 points.

Fraker said it was nothing more than communicating well in the quarter and taking what the Haines defense gave them. The Yakutat women had been regularly playing against the Yakutat men’s team, Fraker said, which pushed them a little harder and forced them to have crisper passes.

That was apparent in the second half, as Yakutat took care of the ball and Haines committed a few costly turnovers. Haines never seemed to fade, though, as they continued playing aggressive defense into the final minute.

Haines had two All-Tournament players in Daly and Alisa Beske, while Yakutat had Williams and Kim Buller on the team in addition to Fraker winning MVP.

Haines’ Samantha Clay, who finished the game with six points, said Yakutat’s shooting was the difference in the game. Once Yakutat grabbed control of the game, Clay said, it was hard to fight back into it.

“It’s hard to come from behind and get momentum to swing your way,” Clay said. “We’ll be gunning for them next year.”


• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at 523-2271 or amccarthy@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.


Haines’ Samantha Clay, right, fouls Yakutat’s Justyne Wheeler during the Women’s final in the Juneau Lion’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Saturday, March 24, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Haines’ Samantha Clay, right, fouls Yakutat’s Justyne Wheeler during the Women’s final in the Juneau Lion’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Saturday, March 24, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

More in Sports

Public lands are a unique privilege that Americans should relish and protect. (Photo courtesy Jeff Lund)
I Went to the Woods: The comment section: Where discourse goes to die

Someone always takes it upon themselves to filter a post, headline, story or ideas through their political view and come up with a divisive hot take.

2024 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Amit Elor, 21, right, demonstrates a counter tie on Wasilla High School junior Taryn Wright, 16, during the Juneau Girls Wrestling Clinic on Tuesday at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Alaska wrestlers take on Olympic and world champion at Juneau camp

Gold medalist Amit Elor shows girls path to success

The dainty little flowers of sheep sorrel are either male or female, but not both. (Photo courtesy Mary F. Willson)
On the Trails: Butterworts, leaf rollers, and invasive flowers

On a bright, sunny day in mid-June, a friend and I strolled… Continue reading

The juniors start at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Zuber, Flagstad capture junior Mount Marathon races

Kenai’s Boonstra takes 2nd in junior girls race

Anchorage's Klaire Rhodes, 27, wins the women's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Rhodes defends women’s Mount Marathon crown

With Seward stuffed with people for 97th running of the Mount Marathon… Continue reading

David Norris, 34, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, wins the men's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Norris goes 6 for 6 in Mount Marathon men’s race; Moore’s streak ends at 54 races

One streak lived while another streak ended during a brilliantly sunny men’s… Continue reading

Swimmers race in Saturday’s Open Water Swim Series on Auke Lake. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Open Water Swim gives swimmers strokes

Theme of no lines, no lanes, no limits inspires

Juneau’s Auke Bay Post 25 third baseman Madden Mendoza tags out Palmer Post 15 base runner Reed Craner (2) during Juneau’s 7-6 win over Palmer in American Legion Baseball action Sunday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Legion baseball team sweeps Palmer

Ludeman hits walk-off, Auke Bay Post 25 defeats Palmer Post 15

Photo by Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion
Jacob Katasse of Auke Bay Post 25 ducks under a pitch in front of catcher Conner Mitchuson of Madisonville (Kentucky) Post 6 on Friday, June 20 in the Lance Coz Wood Bat Tournament at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai .
Juneau’s Alaska Legion baseball team hits the road

Auke Bay Post 25 travels to Kenai tournament, Anchorage next

Young female spruce cones grow upright and bend down to open when the seeds are ripe and ready to disperse. (Photo by Mary Willson/courtesy)
On the Trails: Fledgling birds and spruce tips

The stroll was peaceful and the birds were singing.

Juneau’s John Bursell and Brandon Ivanowicz — team J & B — placed third and Whitehorse’s Nicolas Giangrande and Heron Land-Gillis — The Bonk Bros — first in the two-person male team race of last Saturday’s Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay. They also placed sixth and first overall, respectively. out of 284 teams. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Pure Sole: ‘Come and do the KCIBR’

It’s like the Klondike run, except with bikes

Juneau’s Auke Bay Post 25 batter Noah Lewis is hit by a pitch during American Legion action against South Post 4 earlier this season. Juneau will play a home series against Palmer Post 15 Saturday through Monday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Auke Bay Post 25 splits games in Anchorage

Juneau’s American Legion team will host Palmer this weekend