By Mariah Abbott and Mackenzie Dysinger

The Panther gymnasium was buzzing with excitement this past weekend as five teams competed in the Glennallen Great Pumpkin Buzzer Tournament. Glennallen hosted the junior high basketball event while the other four teams, the Cordova Wolverines, the Nome Nanooks, the Delta Grizzlies, and the Nenana Lynx traveled to participate. 

The tournament featured two brackets, one for junior varsity and another for varsity. Each game was modified to consist of three periods instead of four in order to keep the tournament on track and within the time constraints. The junior varsity bracket was dominated by the Nome Nanooks who took the win for both the girls’ and the boys’ team. 

First-year player Naomi Begay was the high scorer for the Panthers’ junior varsity team. She said her favorite thing about joining the team this year has been “playing other teams and making new friends.”  Begay also said  the most challenging aspect has been “learning all the plays.’’  Both Glennallen teams look forward to the opportunity to continue strengthening their junior varsity. 

The Delta Grizzlies faced off with the Nome Nanooks for the varsity boys’ championship. Despite the drastic difference in height, the Grizzlies’ hustle kept the Nanooks at bay for the first period. However, in the end Nome’s ability to play a fast-paced and high-scoring game led them to victory. 

Delta claimed second place at the tournament, with the Cordova boys coming behind them in third, Glennallen in fourth and the Nenana Lynx in fifth. 

This year the Panthers’ junior high team has a new head coach: Anthony Grandlinard. When asked about how the games went, Coach Grandlinard said, “We faced tough teams and learned a lot about things we can correct and do better. I was very glad to see the intensity and heart that the guys gave.” The relatively young team played well and fought hard during each game. The Panthers' very own Carmelo Jackson was even chosen for the All Tournament Team. 

After losing their first game to Cordova, the Lady Panthers fought back through the loser’s bracket, winning three games in a row to come out as the champions. The Panthers took on the Nome Nanooks at the highly anticipated championship game on Saturday afternoon. The five starters for the Panthers, Nevaeh Evans, Raylie Sutherland, Chisana Korth, Kayla Abbott and Ally Fields, played all three periods of the game. 

The first point was scored by Nevaeh Evans immediately after tip off and was quickly reciprocated by the Nanooks. The gymnasium stands were full of excitement as the two evenly matched teams fought for the leading score; however, the rivals were caught in a stalemate by the second period with a score of four to four. Both teams rallied against each other for two more shots until Nevaeh Evans, the Panthers’ leading shooter, hit a three with just minutes left in the game. 

The Nome Nanooks pressured the Panthers’ defense in an attempt to gain the lead but with less than a minute left on the clock, Chisana Korth was fouled resulting in two free throw shots. Despite heckling from the opposing team’s fans, Korth sunk both shots -- cementing the Panthers’ victory. 

The girls’ All Tournament Team consisted of three players from Glennallen: Nevaeh Evans, Raylie Sutherland and Kayla Abbott. Evans led the team in both rebounds and points. Sutherland helped seal the Panthers’ win through her spectacular ball handling skills while Kayla Abbott contributed to her team’s success with tenacious defense. 

Thanks is owed to all the volunteers who made this past weekend a success and to the coaches who chose to spend their time this season investing in the lives of these student athletes. The Panthers will be playing their next game this weekend at tournaments in both Wasilla and Palmer. 

Read more Copper Valley sports coverage with these articles:

Championship Win and Novel Adventures for Junior High Cross-Country

Glennallen Cross-Country Takes Second at State