It’s been seven years since the Valdez Buccaneers played at Cordova High School court, and the cross-Sound rivals returned home via fast ferry with a pair of wins over the young Cordova Wolverines.
Led by 6-0 Bennett Hinkle, the Buccaneers swept CHS 70-46 and 67-20 in the season openers for both teams on December 15-16. The athletic junior poured 25 points in the first game, and 16 in the second. He started the series with a pair of breakaway dunks in the first minutes of the opener.
Playing before a large crowd of basketball-hungry fans, the Wolverines battled aggressive defense pressure throughout both games. The new-look CHS roster includes four freshman and five sophomores.
Cordova’s only senior, 6-4 Cody Sjostedt, led CHS with 14 points the first night. Christian Adams and Kaiden Graves topped Cordova with 5 points apiece in the rematch.
New CHS Coach Bert Adams knew it was going to be a challenging way to open the season.
“They are one of the top 3A teams in the state, and play with great intensity,” he said. “That level of competition can only make us better.”
Cordova will get a chance to battle 2A opponents in its next games. CHS travels to the Rally the Regions tournament in Anchorage on Dec. 27-30, and will open the eight-team classic against Unalaska. Haines, Craig, Bristol Bay, Unalakleet, Lumen Christi, and Hooper Bay round out the field.
Individual scoring:
Game 1: Cordova: Rodriguez 8, Graves 13, Bailey 2, Frohnapfel 3, Sjostedt 14, Adams 6. Valdez: LaBonte 2, Hinkle, A. 6, Sodergren 2, Chavez 1, Hinkle, B. 25, Freeman 6, Watson 4, Heckathorn 16, Martel 8. Game 2: Cordova: Graves 5, Gatton 3, Bailey 4, Adams 5, Bradford 3. Valdez: Chadwwick 4, LaBonte 2, Mann 7, Hinkle, A. 5, Hinkle, B. 16, Freeman 13, Watson 12, Heckathorn 8.
Valdez swept the JV boys games, 42-27 and 56-48. Rusty Bradford was top scorer for Cordova in both games, with 18 and 23 points.
