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The Mt. Edgecumbe Braves wrapped up the regular season with a 7-5 record in the 3A Southeast conference after two wins over the visiting Craig Panthers this past weekend.
Mt. Edgecumbe recovered from a sluggish first half Friday (Feb. 12) to take a 67-47 win, behind 24 points and 14 rebounds from senior Daniel Peters (Sitka).
Peters came alive in the second half and capped what might have been his best high school game with a dunk in the fourth quarter.
Sean Melovidov (St. Paul) added 13 for the Braves, while Zach Ivanoff (Unalakleet) had 9 points and 10 rebounds.
The game Saturday (Feb. 13) was much closer. The Braves again got off to a slow start, and Craig held a 53-46 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Braves, who trailed by 12 at the half, continued to chip away and took a 61-60 lead on a bucket by Zach Ivanoff with about four minutes to play.
Six straight points, including four big foul shots, by Peters put the Braves up 67-64 with under a minute to play and Mt. Edgecumbe held on for a 71-67 win.
Peters ended up with 17 points, including 15 in the second half, but the senior center suffered a leg injury in the game's final seconds and appears to be done for the season.
MEHS coach Archie Young said Peters broke his fibula after getting tied up with Dylan Castle of Craig as they fought for a rebound.
Peters landed awkwardly and was helped off the court by teammates.
The Braves recently lost another senior, Jeremy Kewan, to an injury, but coach Young remained confident as the Braves prepare for a trip north to Kotzebue.
``We still believe we can compete at a high level and we expect that from ourselves,'' Young said, adding: ``Both of these young men were really starting to play well and develop a better understanding of what we are trying to do and the expectations we have for them. Anytime you lose a player, especially a senior, it is unfortunate for them and the team.''
The injury to Peters comes as both he and the Braves were playing their best basketball of the season. Still, Young said, the Mt. Edgecumbe squad has the right mindset heading into the Region V tournament.
``The confidence level of the team is improving at the right time,'' Young said. ``Going into the regional tournament I feel good about where we are and the adjustments we can make in the next two weeks.''
The Braves trailed 10-8 at the end of the first quarter Friday night at B.J. McGillis Gymnasium, but picked up the intensity in the second frame and took a 24-22 lead at the half.
The Braves put the game away in the third quarter. Castle led Craig Friday with 15 points, while Baxter had 10.
Saturday's game followed a similar path, but the Panthers, instead of trailing by a bucket, took a 12-point halftime lead on the strength of some hot shooting, particularly from behind the three-point arc.
The Panthers stayed hot in the third quarter, but Edgecumbe clawed back into the game as Peters got hot.
David Nelson led all scorers with 21 points for Craig, while Ryan Baxter had 20 and D.J. Almenzor scored 10.
Melovidov had 17 for the Braves, Ivanoff scored 12 and Alexie Nick (Pilot Station) added 11.
The Braves will play three games in Kotzebue this week before returning home to prepare for the Region V tournament.