Huskies score 1st basketball win in school history

WASILLA — For nearly two years, Tony Brooke has gone from coaching one sport to another at Redington Jr./Sr. High School.

Brooke is the head coach of three different programs — football, boys basketball and boys soccer — at the Knik area school which opened its doors for the first time in August of 2015. Through junior varsity seasons during the 2015-16 school year and now at the varsity level during the current season, none of Brooke’s teams had the opportunity to celebrate victory.

Until Tuesday evening.

The Redington Huskies held on to earn a 30-27 win over Lumen Christi Tuesday night in Anchorage.

“Euphoria,” Brooke said by cell phone Wednesday afternoon. “It’s probably the best term to use for those guys, especially the guys who have played with me in football, basketball and soccer. It’s the first official win in any of those sports. It’s huge.”

Brooke said the feeling was shared by players like Brian Amirault, a junior captain who used key moments at both ends of the floor late Tuesday to help the Huskies grab the victory.

“I gave him a huge hug last night. He’s been with me through all three seasons last year — football, basketball, soccer — and now football and basketball this year. He and I are coming close to 0-60. For him to step up and hit two key shots, get a key steal, and make key basketball decisions at the end is huge.”

Brooke said Tommy Long is another player who has been with Brooke in each boys’ sport since Redington’s first day as a school.

Brooke admitted the game was a big ugly, tied at 12 at half, but said the Huskies took advantage of opportunities late. Redington did trail by six in the fourth, but rallied.

“We were able to go ahead and hold a lead,” Brooke said.

Redington’s play during the final half of the fourth quarter proved to be a difference-maker for the Huskies, Brooke said.

“It’s the best four minutes of basketball we’ve played,” Brooke said. “Guys were finally making shots they were missing all game.”

Brooke said the Huskies iced the game with a pair of late free throws by Jaiden Straughn with four seconds remaining. Straighn’s free throws gave Redington the three-point lead late. Before that, Brooke said Huskies held a 28-27 lead for about two minutes.

“It was very stressful,” Brooke said.

That came after Amirault sparked the Huskies with a pair of fourth-quarter buckets. Brooke said Long also hit a key jumper, and Tony Rogers and Brody Brooks came through with gritty play for the Huskies.

“It was a total team effort,” Brooke said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.