VHS Varsity Boys Basketball Wrap-Up [March 22 – 25]
Courtesy of VHS Coaches – This past week, the Valdez Buccaneers Boys traveled to the Alaska State Tournament, where they were seeded #6. The seeding, determined by a comprehensive and data-driven formula that includes wins, opponent victories, and opponents opponents victories, set up an opening round tilt against the Houston Hawks, whom the Bucs beat 361 days prior at the 2022 State Tournament to end the season. Spoiler alert***: the Hawks would get their revenge.
An opening round loss meant that the best the Bucs would be able to finish was 4th place. Where, initially, the goal was to not have to play on Friday (as that was when the loser bracket Finals was to be played) the Bucs had to play again on an unprecedented turnaround time of 12 hours and were faced with the real possibility of losing their first two games and being out of the tournament BEFORE Friday.
Thursday morning’s matchup was a repeat of the 2023 Valdez Elks Tournament second-round matchup between the Bucs and the Barrow Whalers. In that contest, the Bucs were up big at halftime, only to blow the lead and lose by 3 points. Much like Houston the night before, the Bucs were able to avenge an earlier loss, advancing to the 4th/6th place game on Friday morning.
Friday morning the Bucs squared off against the Kenai Kardinals, the number 5 seed entering
the tournament. The 9:30 morning game is not typically a well-attended one, and oftentimes it
is sloppy and uninspired. While some of that may be true, the game itself was competitive
throughout and a close one, with the Bucs ultimately prevailing and securing a 4th place finish
at the State Tournament.
For the Boys bracket, the results were mostly chalk this year. Incoming seeds 1 (Grace Christian), 2 (Nome), 3 (Houston), and 7/8 (Barrow and Delta) finished the tournament as they were seeded. The differences came in the middle of the pack, with Valdez finishing two better (4th) than initially seeded and Mt. Edgecumbe and Kenai each finishing one place lower than seeded (5th and 6th, respectively).
Wednesday, March 22nd (7:45 pm): Valdez 51, Houston 64
The opening round game for the Buccaneers was the late contest in the auxiliary gym, immediately following a hotly contested Monroe vs. Colony matchup. The auxiliary gym provides an excellent atmosphere and more closely resembles the gyms that the Bucs are used to playing in, as opposed to the cavernous “main court” of the Alaska Airlines Center.
Having beaten the Houston Hawks the year before (only one of two teams to do so the entire season), the Bucs entered the contest confident. That confidence may have been shaken early on, though, as the Bucs found themselves in a 15-2 deficit in the first quarter before closing the gap a bit to end the first frame down ten (18-8). The second quarter was a near reversal, though, with the Bucs outscoring the Hawks 20-6 and establishing a 4 point lead at the half.
The Bucs were able to increase that lead in the third quarter and entered the fourth quarter with a 12 point lead. Having taken control of the momentum and dominated the second and third quarters, Buccaneer faithful were optimistic of a second-round matchup with the defending champion Nome Nanooks and a chance to earn a State-championship game berth. However, you cannot overlook the quick-scoring offense of the Houston squad. They have been involved in several high-scoring games throughout the season and are capable of putting up a dominant performance at any given time.
Unfortunately for the Bucs, the Hawks’ dominant quarter coincided with perhaps the most anemic of quarters the Buccaneers posted all year. The Hawks used deadly 3-point shooting and multiple free throw opportunities to not only erase the 12-point Buccaneer advantage but to build a lead of their own and salt away a 64-53 victory, outscoring the Bucs 30-5 in the final and deciding frame.
For the game, the Houston Hawks shot 11/28 (39 %) from behind the arc, while the Bucs shot 4/15 (27 %). The Hawks also attempted 29 free throws, compared to the 5 the Bucs earned.
Bryce Tucker was the leading scorer for Valdez, pouring in 19 points, while Dillon Fowler (12) was the only other Buccaneer to score in double figures. In a game that featured 7 total
offensive fouls, Dillon Fowler successfully drew one and Allen Watson drew two.
Watson, who (in addition to the 2 charges taken) had 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and only one turnover, was recognized as the Player of the Game for the Buccaneers.
Thursday, March 23rd (10:30 am): Valdez 47, Barrow 45
The 45-minute late start to Wednesday night’s game resulted in an approximate 10:00 pm finish, with the loser of the contest slated to take on the Barrow Whalers a mere 12 hours later. In an era in athletics in which the governing bodies are supposed to be placing an emphasis on player safety, one has to wonder if the gurus at ASAA merely overlooked such a scheduling faux pas or if this is the new standard. While commonplace in AAU or running clock formats, this writer is unaware of such a short turnaround at any previous State Tournament – particularly those in which it is impossible to come out of the loser’s bracket to claim a championship.
At any rate, the van ride to the hotel on Wednesday night was exceedingly quiet, as was the van ride a mere 10 hours later on Thursday morning as the Bucs arrived at their game. Having previously faced the Barrow Whalers, the Bucs knew they were in for a physical game. They were not disappointed.
While there were 29 personal fouls called, and 21 free throws attempted throughout the game, those numbers are not indicative of the level of physicality in which the game was played. In a rarity of late, the Bucs found themselves leading early, but then trailing most of the game by a margin of 4-9 points.
By the end of the third quarter the Bucs had clawed their way back and were leading 36-35. Competitiveness and adrenaline were enough to quash the lingering ailments and soreness from playing two physical games in the last 14 hours. The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with teams hitting big shots, getting quality defensive stops, and scrambling on the floor for loose balls. Ultimately, the Bucs would prevail 11-10 in the fourth quarter and secure a 47- 45 victory.
The win, and physical nature of the game, came at a cost – Dillon Fowler broke a finger on his left hand during one of the numerous scrums he was involved in, ending his high school basketball career. Fowler finished the game as one of eight Buccaneers to score.
Bryce Tucker and Allen Watson led the Bucs in scoring, with 10 apiece. Allen Watson and Payton Gage successfully drew an offensive foul. For his efforts, which included 8 points, 5 deflections, 2 steals, and 2 rebounds, Payton Gage was named the Player of the Game for the Bucs.
The win cemented a spot in the early-morning game Friday, with the winner earning 4th place and the loser finishing 6th.
Friday, March 24th (9:00 am): Valdez 48, Kenai 44
If you were in attendance during the Thursday evening game on the main court, during Nome vs. Houston, you were treated to one of the more exciting and entertaining high school games of the tournament- and perhaps the year. Not only was it a quality game, the atmosphere was electric.
Walking into the arena and on to the main court Friday morning at 8:30, the atmosphere was…different. Muted? Nonexistent? The ambience was created by being able to hear the arena workers sweep, flip on lights, or set up their respective work stations. Credit should be given to Valdez and Kenai supporters, though, as they matriculated courtside prior to tipoff and were present during the game.
Not unsurprisingly, the game itself was a bit lackluster at the onset. Not sloppy per se, just sloppy and uninspired. The Bucs, true to form, decided to spot the Kardinals some early points, allowing them to get off to a 6-0 lead. While it would have been easy to roll over and go through the motions, the Bucs exhibited some fight and played with pride – erasing the early deficit and taking a 14-10 lead into the second quarter.
The game script went largely the Kardinal way during the second and third quarters, with the Bucs down 8 (27-35) near the end of the third quarter, and down 6 to start the fourth. It was not until, with approximately 2:40 seconds remaining in the game, the Bucs were able to pull even- and then take the lead- thanks to consecutive made baskets by Hunter Mathews. It was a lead they would never relinquish, as the Bucs secured a thrilling 48-44 victory to claim 4th place at State and secure a 20-win season.
Hunter Mathews led the Bucs in scoring, with 18, to go along with 3 rebounds, 3 deflections, a steal, and a charge taken. For his efforts he was named the Player of the Game for the Bucs.
Bryce Tucker chipped in 13 points, while Allen Watson successfully drew an offensive foul – his third game in a row having done so.
Awards:
Bryce Tucker was named to the All-Tournament Team for the State Tournament. In the three games, Bryce averaged 14 points per game.
Notes:
Every team enters a new season with aspirations of being crowned State Champs. Ultimately, there is only one. In order to do so, a team must be talented, a bit lucky, and relatively free of injuries. This year the Bucs team had 5 Seniors that were disappointed they fell short of their ultimate goal. However, as was discussed after the Kenai game, three of those Seniors have younger siblings that get to continue their pursuit of a Valdez State Championship. Those underclassmen are better players because of the quality of competition they faced each and every day in practice against those that are graduating and done with high school basketball.
To those Seniors (Bryce Tucker, Dillon Fowler, Payton Gage, Hunter Mathews, and Allen Watson), thank you for your contributions and efforts this season and seasons past.
This writer maintains that Valdez is the most logistically difficult or time-consuming locale to travel from for high school sports. The closest conference opponent is approximately 270 miles away. For the 2022-2023 season the Bucs spent over one month (34 days) on the road, traveling nearly 5,000 miles (4,075 via road, 700 via air, and 135 via boat).
The basketball season is roughly 114 days long, spanning both Christmas and Spring break. The commitment to officiate, coach, or play basketball is unlike any other sport at the high school level. The same can be said of those parents that travel to support your Bucs. Your dedication and commitment is noticed and appreciated. Valdez always travels well.
Here’s to 2023-2024…