Eagle River High School opened its doors in 2005.  Two years after I moved here.  I contacted Principal Barnett, well before the school opened about doing photos for the sports teams, but she never got back to me, so I went the team route.  I knew the first basketball coach from living next door to my sister and he use to go to my church.  Basketball was the first major sport Eagle River had that was a varsity program.  So, I went to a booster club meeting, and shooting boys and girls basketball after one season, and boys American Legion for part of that season, I started shooting more.  Football, flag football, wrestling, volleyball, baseball, track and field and ROTC comps.  That grew into Senior Photos for many of the athletes who had gone through ERHS.  Even some family photo gigs came up and some corporate work.  But next year there will be something missing from the ERHS sidelines.  Me.

In May of this year, my sister and her family will be moving to Denver due to her husbands job.  In Early July, my mom, who many of you know I am the primary caregiver for, and I will be following them to Denver, and within the next year, I expect my  brother to move from Fairbanks to the Denver area.  This was an unexpected change.  I had big ideas for the 12/13 football and basketball seasons.  I really was excited about the new coaching staff for football, and after this last basketball season, well it just wet my appetite for next season.  I did have senior photos lined up for this summer, that I have had to cancel.

I do not have anything lined up for a regular day to day job at this time.  Right now I am focusing on finding a home in the Denver area.  I have some shooting gigs lined up for later this summer.  The one main thing I am looking forward to is being able to shoot more high profile sports.  There are 8 professional teams in and around the Denver area, so between the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, Pro Lacrosse, MLS, and two Pro women’s soccer teams, plus Pac-12 sports with the University of Colorado and Division 1 hockey and downhill skiing, not to mention Winter X-Games, and the fact that MaxPreps holds the contract for the high schools in Colorado, I will be busy shooting a lot.  I just hope the money starts flowing quickly.  A drawback is, I will not be shooting for one, single school.  I will shoot mainly NW Denver schools.  It could be one school one night, another the next.  I will not be doing senior posters like I was for Eagle River, and I will not have the one on one connections I have made with the boosters, parents, and kids like I have over the last 7 years.

I am also excited about getting out and about the Denver area.  Red Rocks sounds like a pretty interesting place to shoot, and with the Denver Zoo, and 300 days of sunlight, besides sports, I will have many various opportunities to get some great shots.

The weather will also be a good thing for my mom’s health.  She should be able to get out in the sun more without having to worry about a bear or moose in our driveway, and with 6+ months of winter and less than 6 months of road construction in Alaska, it will be a nice change.  Plus I will be able to get my Fiat out year round instead of just pulling it out after all the snow and ice is gone.

I know with my leaving, that leaves a hole in ERHS sports for the posters, action photos, and all the little extras I have done over the years.  At this time, I do not know who will fill my roll.  I have some ideas, but they may not pan out.  I had the luxury of knowing many of the parents that came through Eagle River High School through my work previously with Knik Little League and the Alaska Quakes baseball programs.  I will let some of the local photographers whom I know that I think would be a good fit know, and we will see what we can come up with.

I may have graduated 2 decades ago from a Seattle high school, but for the last 7 years I have been all Eagle River Wolves.  I will continue to be root for the blue and silver and I expect to hear from the players, parents, and coaches on how the teams are doing.

The defending state champion Bartlett Golden Bears visited the Wolves Den Wednesday night.  In the first half, it really looked like the Wolves could pull off a miracle and walk away with the win.  They lead for a good part of the 1st half behind the 22 points from Senior Chris Parker, 16 points from Junior Shaquan Rhoades, and 10 points from Senior Kelechi Madubuko.  There was one dunk from Senior Kevin Waterman, and the Wolves really played a great first half.

Chaz Jenkins floats a shot up over the Bartlett defense

Then the third started, and Bartlett jumped out in front of the Wolves and never looked back.  The Wolves third quarter was filled with missed shots, few rebounds, and turnovers.  They regained their composer by the fourth and were able to match Bartlett shot for shot, but it was too late and Bartlett ran out of the Wolves Den with a 88 to 70 win.

Junior Shaquan Rhoades shoots over the Bartlett defense Wednesday night

That is all I will say about the game.  I want to focus on the 4 seniors who played their last home game Wednesday.

Senior Patrick Prior shoots one of his last free throws in the Wolves Den

I do not really know Patrick Prior.  He was on JV last year, and I knew he was a three point specialist, and that is what he did on Varsity this year.  He has a nice shot, and I really do wish I could have watched him play Varsity ball one more year.

Senior Chris Parker cuts baseline for a backboard slapping lay-up

Senior Chris Parker transfered in this year and while I share my birthday with Chris, he is a fun player to watch.  From deep threes, to slicing into the lane for a quick lay up, to brilliant no look passes, and some phenomenal defense, Chris was just fun to watch.  I would love to have had Chris here all 4 years.

Senior Kevin Waterman goes up for his last Dunk in the Wolves Den

Senior Kevin Waterman played his second year of Varsity ball this year.  Last year I remember he was this skinny tall kid that was not a major force on boards.  He would get banged around pretty good by other teams big men.  This year, Kevin was fun to watch.  Crashing the boards, nice turn around shots, and consistently throwing down jams.  Hunter Hill has big shoes to fill as the big man in the middle next year.

Still No Dunk Kelechi?!?!

The one senior from the boys team I will really miss will be Kelechi Madubuko.  I remember when I first met Kelechi.  He was a goof ball at the Mustang Round Up.  Goofing off, getting teased by Buron Bell and Darius Horton, and he came off to me as a little bit of a dork.  But then I saw him play, not basketball, but football.  And I remember saying to myself, this kid is good.  Kelechi has grown up quite a bit since I first met him.  Still does not have a dunk in a game, but if you asked me who was the most athletic kid at Eagle River was, I would have to say Kelechi is.  And like fellow football senior, OJ Hall, he is everyones friend.  Kelechi is a great kid who I will miss seeing play and talking to.

Senior Smurf Meaghan Byman lets loose of a shot against Bartlett in her last home game

The girls also celebrated senior night which while it was a good by for Meaghan Byman, who I have gotten to know her and her family over the last few years, and will be sad once her soccer season is over, but Wednesday night saw the first game in uniform by Senior Paulette Mordini.  I was so disappointed when I saw Paulette keeping stats instead of playing this year, her first year with the team.  But she went to all the practices, and worked out with the team, so when it came to senior night, she suited up and started.  And you know what?  She did good.  Her defense was decent for someone who did not play basketball, she ran plays the way they were diagramed, and her only downfall was when she got the ball she had soccer feet, always moving and probably should have been called for traveling, but I was so glad to see her on the floor, and wish she would have suited up at the beginning of the season.

Stat taker Paulette Mordini dons a uniform for Senior Night

And what a day it was.  Especially for the Varsity boys.  Coming off a 1 point loss to Chugiak a few days before, the Wolves needed a win, and as history tells us, a win against West is not that easy a thing to do.  I know, the days of the Chuck White Eagles are gone, but still, West is a tough squad and after a loss to Chugiak, you did not know what team would show up Saturday night, one deflated after the Mustang loss or one that was angry, needing to go out there and win.

Nicolas Montgomery throws up a shot against West

From the start of the game, it was clear these Wolves came to play.  And play they did.  It seemed like that normal West Press was not as dominating as it once was.  Sure, they got a few turnovers, but for the most part, Eagle River broke it and as the game went on, West gave up on the press.  And while this is not a Chuck White Eagles team, it was apparent that the press is still their number one play.  Taking the press out of the game of the Eagles, they were forced into a half court offense and in all honesty, their half court offense showed that they do not run it well.  West boiled down to a lot of one on one ball, and when you are playing a team that is coming off a loss that should never of happened, a team playing not just as a team, but as a team on a mission, there is little you can do to stop the onslaught.

Junior Shaquan Rhoades shoots over the West Defense

In the first quarter Eagle River and West were going back and forth, but the Wolves would start to distance themselves from West early on.  Senior Kevin Waterman was on fire.  I know Waterman had at least one dunk, early on, coming down the right side of the lane, was fed the ball and threw down a one handed jam, but I am pretty sure he had a second half dunk too.

Two West players are dunked on by Senior Kevin Waterman

Waterman lead the Wolves in scoring with 29 points, Junior Shaquan Rhoades added in 18 points, Seniors Chris Parker scored 14, Kelechi Madubuko tossed in 11.   Nicolas Montgomery also tossed in 10.

Senior Kelechi Madubuko scores 2 of his 11 points against West

Senior Chris Parker shoots over the West defense

And it was loud in the Wolves Den.  While the gym was not packed, it sure did sound like it was standing room only.

It was a huge win for the Wolves and hopefully they can carry the momentum from Saturday’s game into Wednesdays final home game against Bartlett.  I honestly feel when these boys play as a team, do not force improbable shots, and keep their heads in it, there is not a CIC team they can not beat.  It will not be easy for the last two games of the season for them though.  After facing Bartlett, who is coming off a loss to undefeated Diamond Saturday, the Wolves head to those undefeated Lynx for their final regular season game against Diamond, who put the hurt on Eagle River earlier in the season.  But, if the Wolves play their game, they could close out this season with a 8-6 record, which would put them in good position for the CIC Tournament, and a potential trip to the Sullivan Arena for the State Playoffs.

In the first meeting of the two teams at Eagle River, the Wolves demolished the Mustangs.  So the table was set for the Wolves.  This should have been a cake walk.  All the Eagle River fans were salivating for a win, which would put the Wolves above .500 and in one of their best ever positions going into the CIC tournament.

Junior Hunter Hill grabs a rebound in the loss to Chugiak

The pre game started and was really overboard for a winless team.  The lights went out, the music came on, spotlight sweeping the gym, and the Mustangs took the floor.  I personally felt that instead of focusing on a cool introduction, the team should focus on Basketball.  In my opinion, it was a joke.  Unfortunately, the Eagle River players did not take the Mustangs seriously.

The game started, and Eagle River jumped out to a comfortable lead, but Chugiak hung in there.  Senior center for Eagle River went baseline and elevated for a dunk.  This could have demolished the Mustangs, and pushed the Wolves into a win, but Waterman did not throw down a thundering dunk.  He just kind of played it safe and wanted to make sure the ball went into the hoop.  I remember rivalry games and as much as coaches do not like a missed gimme shot, if you do not go big, you are not going to get the crowd into it.

Junior Shaquan Rhoades heads to the hoop for a lay up

The game remained close going into half time with Eagle River in the lead.  I had two concerns.  In close games, I have observed the Wolves do two things, they can give up a lot of points in the 3rd quarter and then rely on attempting a bunch of three point shots in the 4th quarter to try to regain the lead.

Senior Kevin Waterman heads to the rim for a dunk against Chugiak

The third period started and there was a big problem.  Senior Chris Parker was sitting on the bench.  It is unclear why, and I did not even ask the question why.  But having him sit on the sidelines took Eagle River out of the game.  Do not get me wrong, this is one of the first Wolves team that has talent everywhere you look.  Having both Waterman, and Junior Hunter Hill backing each other up, and guards like Parker, Junior Shaquan Rhoades, Sophomore Thomas Jones, Senior Forward Kelechi Madubuko and Freshman Chaz Jenkins, and a variety of other impact players on the bench, they have a very good squad, but when you take Parker out of the equation, it sucks the life out of the team.  And that is what it was doing in the Chugiak game.

Senior Chris Parker hangs in the air against Chugiak

Parker finally came off the bench in the fourth, and was able to bring some life back into the Wolves.  With the game tied late in the 4th quarter there was hope that the Wolves would pull it off, but it was not going to happen.  Down by 1 point with seconds left, Rhoades drove into the lane, hacked, bumped, grabbed, he somehow was able to get a shot off, but it would not fall.  And to top it off, the officials did not call any of the numerous fouls the were going on right in front of them.  It was obvious from the calls in the first game of the night, these officials wanted to get all three games done as quick as possible and go home.  Obvious traveling violations, blatant hacking, grabbing, and three second calls were not being called.  Even inbounding the ball with a foot on the line was overlooked.

Junior Shaquan Rhoades attempts a layup through traffic

So, the Birchwood Bowl stays at Chugiak for another year.

On another note, even though the Eagle River girls fell to Chugiak in the game before the Boys varsity game, they played a great game.  The first quarter got away from Eagle River, but that was because the coach sat players for disciplinary reasons, and Chugiak jumped out to a large lead, but with players back on the floor for the rest of the game, Eagle River held Chugiak to 17 points over three quarters.  It was disappointing to see them give up a potential win over discipline.

So going to the game Tuesday night, I knew this was going to be a wild night.  I was sure the East players wanted badly to beat the former coach in his new gym.  I walk into Eagle River prior to the girls game to see Junior Shaquan Rhoades in the commons area.  I asked him if he was ready for tonight and he told me he could not play.  Crap.  Our floor general, our play maker, one of our top scorers on the bench tonight?  My excitement for the game started to waiver a little.  When the Wolves faced Palmer, they were without Kelechi Madubuko, and fell to the Moose.  Without Rhoades, what would this do to the game.

Freshman Chaz Jenkins lays up a shot against East Tuesday night

Eagle River was going to have to really step it up against East, and in the first quarter, they did.  The stayed toe to toe with the T-Birds with East slowly pulling ahead.  Freshman Chaz Jenkins, and Seniors Kevin Waterman and Kelechi Madubuko kept the Wolves in the game early on, but the whole night was Senior Chris Parker’s night.

Senior Kelechi Madubuko puts up a shot against East Anchorage

Parker was running the ball and plays really good.  Probably the best I have seen from him this season.  He even threw some dimes that should have been assists, but were either not anticipated by his team mates, or in the case of a sweet ally-oop attempt to Kevin Waterman, just a tad off the mark.

Senior Chris Parker floats a shot over the East defense

When halftime hit, it was close, not out of the question that the Wolves were still in it, as long as they could keep it together in the second half.  The third quarter started, and the Wolves looked a little rough, a few turnovers, but, they kept the game close.

Senior Chris Parker throws up an acrobatic shot against East Anchorage

In the fourth, two things happened.  The Wolves turned the heat up, and they out scored the T-Birds to tie the game and send it to overtime.  The few Wolves fans that came out for a Tuesday night game were in for a treat, and they were getting their money’s worth.  In overtime, Brandon Parish came in with an important bucket, and big trips to the foul line.

But Parker was the star of the night.  He unloaded 26 points on East to lead all scorers and lead the Wolves to a 66-62 overtime win.

Chris Parker scores 2 of his game high 26 points against East in a thrilling OT finish

Bring on Chugiak.

I have kept my griping about the ASAA official to a minimum this season.  Partly because the officiating has been marginally better than last year, but mainly because I have accepted that the officials really do not know what is going on.  But Tuesday night in the Wolves Den, the officiating was beyond horrible.  The girls got the brunt of most of the bad calls, but it was both games that failed to show that at least two of the officials had ever seen a basketball let alone read a rulebook.  When a girl is all but body slammed from behind, it is not a jump ball.  When a girl is rolling over on the floor with the ball and no one else is touching her or the ball, it is not a jump ball and when a girl blast out of a group of girls with a rebound, dribbling the ball, and someone slaps her arm, it is not a jump ball.  When you pick up your dribble, you get 1 pivot foot, not two, and after dribbling, when you dribble again that IS called double dribble and is something you blow your whistle for.  But probably the thing that irritated me more than anything, when a girl is on a fast break and a girl goes for the ball on a shot, but hits the body instead, it is not an intentional foul.  The next play down the floor where the girl grabbed the arm of the shooter (that was a no call) where she made no attempt at the ball, that WAS an intentional foul.  And the last thing.  The lines marking the court, the ball does need to stay inside these lines, but so does the person dribbling the ball.  And it carried on into the boys games, but not as bad, mainly because I think the boys were running too fast for the officials to keep up.  Surprise there was not a jump ball for that.

End of rant.

Freshman Chaz Jenkins takes a off balance shot against Service

The Eagle River Boys have not faired well against Service this year.  A loss to Service in the Cougar Tip off tournament followed up with a loss in their first meeting of the CIC season at Service, the Wolves were looking for some payback.  In the first quarter, it actually looked like Eagle River was going to make it a game. Freshman Chaz Jenkins, Junior Shaquan Rhoades, and Seniors Chris Parker, Kelechi Madubuko and Kevin Waterman were coming up with the big shots and boards early on.  Service pulled ahead, but the Wolves were right there the entire 1st quarter.

Thomas Jones tosses a no look dime in the first half of the game against Service

Even Thomas Jones made an impact with long balls and nice passes.  But when the second quarter started, the Wolves were not playing like the same team.  Not following shots, turn overs, and not running plays, allowed the Cougars to pull ahead.

Senior Kevin Waterman heads to the rim for two and a foul

The third quarter looked much like the 2nd quarter.  Not following shots, not getting rebounds on either end of the court, and playing a lot of one on one ball instead of running plays.  It seemed the few times the Wolves started to run some plays, they looked lost.

Senior Kelechi Mabubuko puts a shot up against Service

Then the 4th quarter started, and boom.  The Wolves started to come alive.  The started swarming the ball, and started hitting the boards with an urgency that should not have been there.  If the Wolves would have played defense half as intense in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, they would have been a lot closer in the 4th and able to overtake Service.

Junior Shaquan Rhoades throws up a shot between the Service defense

As close as the Wolves could get in the 4th, they just could not overtake the Cougars.  Three attempt after three attempt put up, but even if Eagle River would get to a point that they thought they were going to get it, Service would explode for a quick shot to regain a comfortable lead.

Senior Kelechi Madubuko throws up a fast break shot against Service

When it was all over, Service walked away with the win, but Eagle River made it a game, at least in the 1st and 4th.  If they could have put together three quarters like the 1st, and turned it up a little for the 4th, they could have gotten a big win over Service.

Kelechi Madubuko is fouled on his way to the basket

Freshman Chaz Jenkins throws up an incredible shot against Palmer in the Wolves Den

Lets first talk about the snow.  Friday it snowed all day, but around 12 noon, the snow was falling at about 3″ per hour.  Roads were horrible, you could not see more than 10 feet in front of you.  ASD was canceling events left and right, but not the basketball game.  C-Team was to start at 4:30 pm, and Palmer did not show up until about 10 or 15 minutes before the game.  Come on ASD, get your act together.  When the roads are dangerous, cancel everything!  Not even the school parking lot had been plowed.  It was crazy.

There was not a lot of good things to talk about from the Varsity game against Palmer.  A lot of turnovers, no crashing the boards, and it looked like the Wolves were playing more one on one ball than running plays.  It should have been an easy victory for Eagle River.  Palmer showed up with 5 Varsity players, and 3 JV players who played most of the early game, so should have already been tired.  Eagle River should have been able to wear out the Moose and taken them to town.

Freshman Chaz Jenkins heads to the rack for a lay up against Palmer

One positive thing from the game was the play of Freshman Chaz Jenkins.  Jenkins, when he was on the floor, seemed to be everywhere.  Crashing the boards, cutting through the lane, and some spectacular shots.  Not all of them that missed were the best looks at scoring attempts, but when he connected, those shots were some incredible attempts.

Thomas Jones puts up a shot over the Palmer defense

The first half was close.  Three pointers from Thomas Jones, and Shaquan Rhoades, tough inside play from Kevin Waterman, and spectacular plays from Jenkins kept the Wolves close to Palmer in the first half, but come the 3rd period, the wheels started to fall off.  It seemed like everything Palmer through up fell.  The Wolves were not grabbing any defensive rebounds, and that all added up to Palmer taking a pretty big lead.

Junior Shaquan Rhoades puts up a three against Palmer Friday night

In the fourth quarter the Wolves started to come back, got close a couple times, but it was not enough.  Even a foul on Senior Chris Parker taking a deep three and other later free throw line trips were not enough to pull out a victory.

Senior Chris Parker is fouled on a deep three attempt late in the 4th quarter against Palmer

Going into the boys game, it was nothing but fast paced action.  The kind of basketball I love to watch.  Diamond (undefeated in CIC play going into the game) faced the new look Wolves (some of the players have dubbed this team Wolves 2.0, but in reality, it is Wolves 3.0).  The first period was wild.  Diamond would pull ahead of the Wolves, but thanks to threes by Senior Chris Parker and Shaquan Rhoades, and key shots by Kelechi Madubuko, plus great inside play by Kevin Waterman, the Wolves stayed with Diamond toe to toe, and even closed out the 1st quarter with a lead over the Lynx.

Senior Kelechi Madubuko goes for two in the first half against Diamond.

The second quarter was won by Diamond, but not by much.  The Wolves were really taking it to the boys from Diamond.  Diamond would start to pull away, but the Wolves would claw their way back.  The excitement in the Wolves den was incredible.  Eagle River was facing a giant and matching them blow for blow.  Even though the Wolves were trailing at halftime, they were in the game.  There was no doubt that the second half would be amazing.

Freshman Chaz Jenkins attempts a first half baseline layup against Diamond

Then the third quarter started.  And it was like the Wolves forgot to come out of the locker room.  If they could get the ball past the half court line, they could not buy a bucket.  Heading into the third quarter, the Lynx had a 4 point lead.  After out scoring the Wolves 16 to 5 in the 3rd, it was going to take a miracle 4th quarter for the Wolves to come back.

Junior Shaquan Rhoades lead the Wolves with 11 points against Diamond

In the 4th, the Wolves started to show some life, but it was too little to late, and they were really forcing shots up.  Beyond NBA 3 point attempts by Parker seemed rushed and a little too late, but you could see in Parker’s eyes, he could feel that he could bring Eagle River back, but he just could not find the zone he was trying so hard to shoot himself into.

Junior Shaquan Rhoades tries to draw a foul. Rhoades lead the Wolves with 11 points against Diamond

If Eagle River could have kept their 1st half composure and momentum into the second half, it would have been one hell of a game, but instead they ended up dropping the game to Diamond 44 to 69.

Senior Chris Parker tries to float a shot up in the Wolves loss to Diamond

On another note, tomorrow, February 2nd is Groundhog Day.  It is also my birthday (I will be 24 for the 16th time!).  It is also Senior Chris Parker’s birthday.  Happy Birthday fellow hoop playing groundhog!

I think they need to work on the intros a little though.  The Eagle River Boys come onto the flow to the Alan Parsons Project song “Sirius”.  This is the same song that the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls did for their introductions.  You know, starting at forward, standing 6’7″ tall, from Central Arkansas, number 33, Scotty Pippen!…..and when they got to number 23, you could no longer hear the announcer, or the music, or anything but the crowd roaring.  I know, Eagle River is not the Bulls, and it is not the NBA, but for this Chugiak game, I was kind of hoping to hear the Wolves hit the flow to “Bring em Out” or pull some old school BBD with “Above the Rim”, then after the National Anthem, and the intros to the Mustangs, pull out some spotlights, turn off the gym lights, and crank up the audio so Mr. Patton can do the intros of the Eagle River boys, get the boys pumped, get the gym rocking, have some fun with it.  Just for one game, it would be cool.  But, even without my intro wishes, there was still an electric feeling in the air.  I think for everyone supporting Eagle River, they knew they already won the game, Chugiak just did not know that they were going to take the loss.  And that could have been a problem for Eagle River.

Junior Shaquan Rhoades pulls up for a jump shot against Chugiak

From the tip off, you could tell this was going to be hard fought game.  Winless in the CIC, Chugiak did not seem to realize that Eagle River had beat South by 30, came in second in the Cougar tip off tournament, or that they had a huge last second win over East in their last game.  No, they came to play.  And play rough.  Rough play was coming from both teams, and for the most part the refs let the boys play.  ASAA officials do not seem to want to call traveling either way, but it did make way for a fast pace game.

Michael Mothersell is fouled on a lay up attempt against Chugiak

The Wolves jumped out to an early lead, lead by Parker, Shaquan Rhoades, and Kelechi Madubuko.  Rhoades took control of the game early on, until Parker started to feel it.  At one point I got all excited because the Wolves had a fast break opportunity.  Freshman Chaz Jenkins was at half court with the ball coming to him.  No one between him and the hoop.  I have seen Chaz dunk the ball just standing under the hoop.  So I was expecting a rim rocking dunk, but Chugiak was able to break up the pass.

Senior Chris Parker led the Wolves with 22 points in the win over Chugiak

Chugiak took the lead at one point, but tonight was Eagle River’s night.  They just out played the Mustangs.  It was unfortunate that Madubuko got called for a intentional foul.  It was obvious to everyone in the gym that his foul was just a hard foul drawn brilliantly by Chugiak, but not intentional.  Later in the same half, an Eagle River player WAS intentionally fouled by a Mustang out of frustration, and again, obvious to everyone in the gym that it should have been 2 shots and the ball for Eagle River, but the refs just called it a foul.

Junior Hunter Hill goes up for two and the foul against Chugiak

The Surprise in the game for me was the play from Hunter Hill.  In the fourth quarter, Hill made some key rebounds and baskets that helped keep the lead in Eagle River’s hands the rest of the game.  A rebound, shot that resulted in a three point play for the Wolves by Hill got the Wolves Den rocking to the end of the game.

On another note, the Eagle River and Chugiak game marked a farewell for someone.  It was the last basketball game the the Eagle River Pep Band director, Mr. Chris Poole would be at.  Mr. Pool and his family are moving to Spokane, Washington and this was his last game as director.  Mr. Poole will be missed.  On the following Friday, January 20th, at the Eagle River Talent Show, the band presented Mr. Poole with a 16×20 poster taken at his last game.  The following picture is what the poster looked like…..  Safe travels Mr. Poole.

Mr. Poole directs the pep band at a Varsity Basketball game for the last time.

Before tip off there was a sense that Eagle River just might have a chance for once against the Mustangs.  But, as the game started, it was apparent that the Lady Wolves just were not ready for the Lady Mustangs.  The girls had a hard time getting the ball past half court, and the Mustangs brought on some impressive defense.  Full court pressure was just too much for the Lady Wolves to get past.

Freshman Lauren Frost gets hit going to the hoop.

While Freshman Lauren Frost has been a big addition to the Lady Wolves, helping to get their offense going finally, it took almost three quarters before the Wolves were able to get an offense going.  The few times that the Wolves did find a path to the hoop they were battered by the strong defense from the Mustangs.  Sometimes they drew fouls and headed to the line, but the whistle did not blow as often as it should have.  That did not really matter though since the foul shooting by Eagle River was off mark most of the time.

Junior Dana Panfil heads to the hoop against Chugiak.

When the Wolves were able to find a way past half court, the baskets may not have been falling, but standing baseline looking through the camera, I did see something that showed promise.  While it was hard for the girls to get any plays going, they were seeing the court better than previous years.  There were some well though shuffle pass attempts, and some backdoor cuts that could have made the game closer if they were executed better, but they just were not there against Chugiak….

Sam Coy releases a shot against Chugiak

The Wolves have another chance to take it to Chugiak this season in the Mustangs home gym.  A win this weekend at Skyview, their first win in 3 seasons, may be just what the Wolves need get the wins rolling in the CIC.  Congrats girls on the victory over Skyview.