The Cordova Wolverines dropped a pair of season-opening games at Valdez on Dec. 14-15, by final scores of 47-39 and 42-32.
They will show as losses on their season won-lost record, but a closer examination of the results – holding the Valdez Bucs to under 50 points both nights on their notably challenging home court – has to have CHS Coach Jake Borst smiling.
The Bucs are famous for going on a tear and racking up points in a hurry.
Not this time. Said Borst, who felt they played better the second game, “we got off to a slow start the second night and lost in another tough defensive game.”
Ah, defense. Many a Cordova coach has returned on the ferry wondering just how Valdez suddenly turned on a switch and racked up points by the bucket – full on steals and break-away layups.
Not this time. Which is something of a milestone and certainly a key starting point for the season. And let’s not forget this was a 3A versus 2A matchup, with Cordova on the short side.
In fact, in the remaining season schedule, the only 3A or 4A matchups for the Wolverines may occur in the Valdez Elks tournament.
A far as individual scoring, Floyd Witsoe and John Itliong had 12 and 10 the first night. Itliong and Noah Pearson scored nine points each and Chiko Jacob added eight points in the second game.
The JV scores were Valdez 63 Cordova 28 on Friday, and Valdez 53 Cordova 20 on Saturday.
The next CHS games will be at home versus Petersburg, Nenana, and Ninilchik in the Cordova Tipoff from Jan. 8-10.
