'Finding our identity': Young Metlakatla team advances to Alaska 2A semifinals
Mar. 18—After competing in the Alaska boys 2A championship game for three straight seasons, Metlakatla has been absent for two years, unable to compete due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year the Chiefs are back, and advanced in the semifinals after defeating Unalaska 63-57 on Thursday in the opening round of the Alaska state 2A tournament.
This edition of won't be recognizable to fans who watched Metlakatla run to the 2017-18 title, a team that was featured in the 2021 documentary "Alaskan Nets."
"That's the big thing," Chiefs head coach T.J. Scott said. "I have a new group that hasn't been up here and we're finding our identity because we have so many new pieces this year and we're pretty young. I don't have a senior on the team so we're going to have everybody back."
The team appeared to have an easy first-round game in store against Unalaska, and led by as many as 20 in the early going. But Unalaska battled back, cutting the lead to just three points at 58-55 in the final minutes.
"We had the size advantage but they put so much pressure on your guards every possession and I they wore us down," Scott said. "We got a little worn down, we got a little tired, and then we got careless with the ball. (Unalaska is) always good and always so disciplined."
The Chiefs will move on to play the winner of Effie Kokrine and Tikigaq, which won the tournament in 2021.
"There's no pressure on us," Scott said. "I'm really proud of them. When you melt down like we did a little bit and then come back together and finish it off that's super important."
Boys 1A Tournament
Wednesday's results
First round
Klawock 56, Napaaqtugmiut 32
Shaktoolik 59, St Mary's 57
Nelson Island 69, Tanalian 53
McQueen 65, Hoonah 42
Maudrey J. Sommer (Tanana) 80, Aniak 41
Lumen Christi 99, Alak 36
Shishmaref 66, Newhalen 56
Scammon Bay 66, Nanwalek 48
Thursday's results
Quarterfinals
Maudrey J. Sommer (Tanana) 53, Shishmaref 50
Scammon Bay 70, Klawock 53
Nelson Island 79, Shaktoolik 73
Lumen Christi 78, McQueen 28
Consolation
Newhalen 69, Aniak 58
Nanwalek 56, Napaaqtugmiut 46
St. Mary's 57, Tanalian 48
Alak 65 Hoonah 55
Friday's games
Semifinals
Maudrey J. Sommer (Tanana) vs. Scammon Bay, 3:15 p.m.
Nelson Island vs. Lumen Christi, 4:45 p.m.
Consolation
Shaktoolik vs. McQueen, 8 a.m.
Newhalen vs. Nanwalek, 8 a.m.
Shishmaref vs. Klawock, 9:30 a.m.
St. Mary's vs. Alak, 9:30 a.m.
Girls 1A Tournament
Wednesday's results
First round
Shaktoolik 43, Skagway 28
Tri-Valley 49, Pilot Station/Marshall 25
Klawock 57, St. Mary's 33
Tanalian 47, Aqqaluk 44
Shishmaref 62, Buckland 43
Birchwood Christian 42, Akiachak 27
Lumen Christi 48, Chaputnguak 26
Newhalen 53, Nunamiut/Meade River 34
Thursday's results
Quarterfinals
Shishmaref 35, Tri-Valley 32
Newhalen 47, Birchwood Christian 27
Klawock 38, Tanalian 31
Lumen Christi 57, Shaktoolik 28
Consolation
Buckland 58, Pilot Station 57
Nunamiut 45, Akiachak 37
St. Mary's 62, Aqqaluk 50
Chaputnguak 45, Skagway 40
Friday's games
Semifinals
Newhalen vs. Shishmaref, 6:15 p.m.
Klawock vs. Lumen Christi, 7:45 p.m.
Consolation
Tri-Valley vs. Birchwood Christian, 11 a.m.
Buckland vs. Nunamiut, 11 a.m.
Tanalien vs. Shaktoolik, 12:30 p.m.
St. Mary's vs. Chaputnguak, 12:30 p.m.
Boys 2A Tournament
Thursday's results
Quarterfinals
Ninilchik 73, Hooper Bay 34
Unalakleet 43 Petersburg 36
Metlakatla 63, Unalaska 57
Tikigaq 74, Effie Kokrine 38
Friday's games
Semifinals
Ninilchik vs. Unalakleet, 6:15 p.m.
Metlakatla vs. Tikigaq, 7:45 p.m.
Consolation
Hooper Bay vs. Petersburg, 11 a.m.
Unalaska vs. Effie Kokrine, 12:30 p.m.
Girls 2A Tournament
Thursday's results
Quarterfinals
Wrangell 52, Hooper Bay 11
Glennallen 39, Unalakleet 38
Metlakatla 31. Susitna Valley 26
Tikigaq 66, Nenana 26
Friday's games
Semifinals
Wrangell vs. Glennallen, 3:15 p.m.
Metlakatla vs. Tikigaq, 4:45 p.m.
Consolation
Susitna Valley vs. Nenana, 8 a.m.
Hooper Bay vs. Unalakleet, 9:30 a.m.
