Conference rivals and neighbors sparated by a span of bridge 1,255 feet long, the Sitka Wolves and Mt. Edgecumbe Braves boys basketball teams went head-to-head in a Thursday night semifinal at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center and the two teams did not disappoint.
In their previous four meetings this season the average margin of victory was just two points and Thursday saw a last-second contested shot miss the mark and the Sitka Wolves were victorious 64-62 over the Mt. Edgecumbe Braves.
“It was a battle between two very good teams,” Sitka coach Steve Compagno said. “We are fortunate to advance. Our defensive execution was the key to our success tonight.”
With three minutes left to play in the fourth quarter Sitka led 56-54. But Mt. Edgecumbe senior Brent Sun came off the bench and around a screen and hit a shot past the arc for a 57-56 lead.
Sitka junior Shane Tincher answered with a shot from distance to regain the advantage 59-57 and Sun repeated his distance with 2:10 left for a 60-59 MEHS lead.
Sitka senior Bryce Compagno-Calhoun scored from past the arc for a 62-60 lead and on a defensive play the Wolves got the ball and called a timeout.
Coming off the rest Sitka junior Trey Johnson was fouled and hit country wise email marketing list one of two free throws for a 63-60 lead.
Mt. Edgecumbe senior Donovan Stephan-Standifer rebounded the miss. But the Braves could not score and fouled Sitka senior Trey Demmert who hit one of two at the line for a 64-60 advantage
Again Stephan-Standifer rebounded the miss for Mt. Edgecumbe and with 43.5 seconds remaining sophomore Kaden Herrmann drove the lane to cut the lead to 64-62.
Sun would get a steal for the Braves, but they missed a americans have been misled into one costly shot with 19.4 seconds left and fouled the Wolves junior Brett Ross.
Both Ross’ free throws went in and out and Mt. Edgecumbe’s
Stephan-Standifer pulled down his game-high 15th rebound.
The Braves called time out to discuss the last aero leads shot and the Wolves matched the strategy.
Mt. Edgecumbe senior RJ Didrickson would be forced into a last-second shot from distance that went wide and Sitka celebrated their win.
“Great game by both teams,” Mt. Edgecumbe coach Andrew Friske said. “Very low turnovers by both, low fouls, big plays by both at the end. I count be happier and proud of how our guys played tonight. After Torian (junior Torian Dull) getting hurt our bench stepped up endplayed their hearts out. We missed one more shot than they did and had a chance at the end. It’s never easy to lose and you never get over it but you can have some satisfaction that we left everything on the floor tonight.”
