The next generation: Middle school basketball championships

WASILLA — For more than a decade, the Mat-Su Valley has boasted a few of the most successful prep basketball programs in the state.

The Valley has produced an impressive eight straight Northern Lights Conference champions in boys basketball and a mind-boggling 17 straight NLC titles in girls basketball.

A half-dozen Valley teams have won girls’ 4A state titles over the last 15 years. Six others have played for a state crown during that span.

Seven boys teams have played for a 4A state title in 15 years, and one team hoisted a state championship banner.

But long before players from these championship teams have the opportunity to cut down the high school nets, many tip-off their careers by hitting the hardwood during the local youth and middle school basketball seasons.

Over the weekend, the Valley’s next generation of hoopsters hit the court during the Valley Basketball Championships at Teeland Middle School.

Jason McCourt, a longtime head coach of the Wasilla Middle School eighth-grade boys team who led his Braves to a title at the Teeland tourney on Saturday, said the two most important aspects of middle school basketball could be simply participation and preparation.

McCourt and his colleagues aim to prepare players for the next level of basketball, but he said the chance to experience the game is also vital.

“It gives the kids an opportunity to say, ‘Hey, you know what, I’ll give it a shot,’” McCourt said.

McCourt said Wasilla Middle, like other local schools, encourages participation with its no-cut policy.

“I’ve always encouraged kids to go out for as many sports as they can in middle school,” McCourt said.

Wasilla Middle fields varsity, junior varsity and C teams at the seventh- and eighth-grade levels for each of its sports to ensure athletes have an opportunity to play. There’s also a separate sixth-grade season.

McCourt has coached players who have continued to win championships and individual accolades at the prep level, and others who decided to move away from basketball after middle school. He’s coached those who blossomed later in their high school careers.

One of McCourt’s favorite examples, he said, is former Wasilla High School standout Matt Crane. As a middle school players, Crane was near the bottom of the depth chart. But with the continued chance to play, Crane developed into a two-time NLC Player of the Year at Wasilla.

Another key is the relationship between the high school and middle school coaches, McCourt said.

“We always welcome the high school coaches to help,” McCourt said.

Ryan Engebretsen, a Teeland Middle teacher who helped organize the weekend tourney, is on both sides of that relationship. Engebretsen is a coaching veteran at both ranks. This season, he’s coaching the Teeland Middle girls team after coaching the Teeland boys for several years. Engebretsen is also the head coach of the Wasilla High boys program.

Engebretsen said the ability of the middle school and high school coaches to work together is integral to the success of programs at both levels.

“So many of us are able to help out,” Engebretsen said of the high school programs. “It’s a head start.”

Engebretsen echoed McCourt’s comments regarding participation.

“That’s the biggest thing. It can get them excited about playing basketball,” Engebretsen said. “Basketball can be a lifelong sport.”

In addition to the introduction of participation and competition, Engebretsen said it’s nice to give younger student-athletes a taste of what athletics could be like at the prep level. Planning road trips and organization tournaments with teams outside of the community provide that, Engebretsen said.

Teeland was able to accomplish both this year. The Teeland tournament included teams from across the 49th state. Programs from Kodiak, Barrow, Valdez and Fairbanks participated.

Engebretsen has also been able to take his teams to areas such as Valdez and the Kenai Peninsula. This week, the Teeland teams are traveling to Barrow.

“I try to plan a road trip every year,” Engebretsen said. “It gets them excited.”

Engebretsen said he believes in the opportunity for younger athletes to compete against and interact with students from other communities and see players they could potentially face during four years of high school basketball.

“I talk to our kids about that, especially with Kodiak. As long as the region stays the way it is, we’ll see those kids for the next four years,” Engebretsen said.

McCourt said he feels Mat-Su schools have provided a bit more stability for the middle school sports program, when compared to communities in other areas of the state.

“The Valley is more organized when it comes to middle school basketball,” McCourt said.

Youth recreation and competitive programs and facilities such as the AT&T Sports Center have also been credited with contributing to the overall development of basketball in the Valley.

“Between the sports center, the middle school programs and all the comp stuff, there’s such an opportunity for kids to make themselves a better basketball player,” Engebretsen said.

Wasilla boys first, girls second in

tourney

In the boys’ championship game Saturday, McCourt’s Wasilla Middle squad beat Monroe Catholic of Fairbanks 48-40 in the title game. The team capped an undefeated season with the win, finishing 18-0. McCourt said the same group of 10 players finished 17-0 with a title as seventh-graders.

Kodiak beat Colony Middle in the boys’ third-place game.

The Wasilla Middle girls team also advanced to the final, but suffered a loss to Kodiak. Colony Middle beat Teeland in overtime during the third-place game.

Wasilla Middle’s Dane Kuiper and Angel Garcia were named most valuable players for the boys and girls classes respectively.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com. Follow him at Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.

VALLEY BASKETBALL

CHAMPIONSHIPS

All-tournament teams

Boys

MVP: Dane Kuiper, Wasilla

Jalon McCullough, Monroe; Ethan Eidenmiller, Monroe; Levi Fried, Kodiak; Jemueel Managal, Kodiak; Clint Sampson, Kodiak; Anton Chamblee, Colony; Bailey West, Colony; Levi Auble, Valdez; Raqkiann Lis Boukne, Barrow.

Girls

Angel Garcia, Wasilla

Faith Farris, Colony; Amber Litterall, Wasilla; Alexis Abbott, Teeland; Machia Toews, Teeland; Amber Pell, Teeland; Danik Catt, Kodiak; Ila Hughes, Kodiak; Saidie Sales, Kodiak; Marian Wamsley, Valdez; Marian Wamsley, Valdez.

Sportsmanship awards

Boys

Robert Kanayukak, Barrow; Max Mutch, Kodiak; Ashton Tatum, Palmer; Dalton Derochers, Monroe; Zach Pfieffer, Teeland; Larkin Udomporn, Colony; Brandon Derifield, Valdez; Levi Wagle, Wasilla.

Girls

Raegan Pickworth, Wasilla; Alicia Smylie, Palmer; Mack Everett, Colony; Ashley Turcotte, Teeland; Charmaine Fabricante, Kodiak; Kiana Till, Academy Charter; Ashley Apangalook, Houston.