The Hoonah Braves battled into a last-second loss against the Shishmaref Northern Lights for a spot in the 4th/6th-place game.
Hoonah led 40-38 on a free throw by Jora Savland with 38.1 seconds left to play.
Shishmaref’s Makenzie Olanna buried a shot past the arc for a 41-40 lead with 18 seconds left, but Hoonah could not get a good look at a shot and had to foul.
Shishmaref’s Bertha Nayokpuk hit two free throws for
the 43-40 score and Hoonah could not find an open look for a last-second shot.
Hoonah held an 11-8 lead after eight minutes behind Easton Ross, Paige Woitte and Jora Savland, and continued that full-court pressure they are known for into a 19-19 tie at the half.
“It has been a terrific season,” Hoonah coach Marlene Duvall said. “Ending on a high note was just being here and getting three games out of it. We set some goals early on and we set some goals for the tournament country wise email marketing list and we succeeded.”
The teams played even in the third quarter with Hoonah taking a 27-21 lead and Shishmaref closing on a 9-2 run for a 29-29 score with just eight minutes left to play.
Hoonah’s Paige Woitte blocked a shot to get the final stanza started.
“I’m grateful for this,” Woitte said of state. “Really grateful for the experience. It sucks that we lost, but at least we got to be here. I have not words to explain it other than grateful, I’m so happy to be here with my team.”
Hoonah’s Eastman Ross notched a pair of free throws to three observations to ponder tie the game at 31-31 and after a Shishmaref basket Ross had an assist to Woitte to tie the game at 34-34.
Hoonah’s Ross would then get a rebound and pass marketing listto Jenna Jack for a basket and Savland added two free throws for a 38-34 lead with two minutes left.
Shishmaref’s Loretta Sinnok scored to pull to 38-36 and Olanna hit again to tie the game at 38-38.
Ross would come up big again for Hoonah after a Braves miss as she stole a ball and fed Jack, who was fouled and hit one free throw for the 39-38 lead that paved the way for the dramatic finish.
“She’s a pretty intense player,” Coach Duvall said of Ross. “She just wants to do what’s right by the team and wants to win. It is a great spirit to have. And on that note we have no seniors graduating that played today so we’ll be back.”
The only senior on the team is three-year starter, and all-state wrestler, Krista Howland. Having a related surgery in February she served as the team’s assistant coach this season.