By Jeff Brady

For the News

Skagway High’s basketball teams finished up a successful month of road games before returning home this week and are in position to be third seeds at the upcoming Region V 1A Tourney in Ketchikan.

The Panther boys entered this weekend’s home finale against Hydaburg with an 8-4 league record. The only blemishes this past month were losses at league-leading Kake. Otherwise they handled Hoonah, Gustavus, and Angoon easily on the road, and then routed Thorne Bay at home early this week (see scores below).

Coach Ross Barrett said the team was encouraged by its strong start at Kake, though a down quarter by Skagway gave the win to the defending state champs.

At regionals Barrett hopes to meet up with Klawock – a team it played well at the start of the season – for a shot to play Kake in the championship game.

“If we play our game, we can pretty much beat anyone,” Barrett said.

The Lady Panthers also sit in third place in a more even 1A girls’ field. Except for two close early losses to Klawock, Skagway has beaten every team in the region and goes into this weekend’s action with a 4-4 league record.

After their big run to win the inaugural Elizabeth Peratrovich Tourney, they swept Angoon and split with Kake.

Coach Nate Jennings has a good feeling about his team, which, like the boys, is at full strength and playing with confidence.

He said the one loss at Kake woke the team up a bit and showed them the kind of environment they’ll face at regionals at Ketchikan.

“We had a good 10-game run before that, which I’ve never had,” he said, adding that his team is working on things to get to a championship level. “Any team can win this regional.”

The teams finish the regular season this weekend, and Saturday’s Senior Night will honor Athena Smith, Ava Myers, and Jake Sager. Then it’s off to regionals Feb. 28–March 2.

NET RESULTS

BOYS

Jan. 24-25 Skagway beats Gustavus: 83-39, 66-16

Feb. 10-11 Skagway beats Angoon: 73-45, 84-66

Feb. 12-13 Kake beats Skagway: 70-53, 74-29

Feb. 18- Skagway 70, Thorne Bay 25: SGY- C. Lawson 17, Sager 15, Borst 10, Cochran 10, Rodig 7, M. Lawson 7, Tronrud 2, Bricker 2; TB- Hamby  11, Ja. Kohn 5, Derriks 4, Jo. Kohn 3, Lovell 3.

Feb. 19- Skagway 77, Thorne Bay 19: SGY- Borst 20, Sager 17, M. Lawson 10, C. Lawson 9, Rodig 8, K. Lawson 6, Cochran 4, Ticarro 3; TB- Hamby  14, Derriks 4, Ja. Kohn 3.

GIRLS

Feb. 10-11 Skagway beats Angoon: 53-33, 51-21

Feb. 12-13 Skagway beats Kake: 35-31, Kake beats Skagway 47-43.