Eagle River High junior forward Dominic Young finds the going difficult among the land of the giants, namely a pair of Service defenders, Saturday. Young finished with nine points, second only to senior teammate Brandon Metzel, with 12. Photo by Dan Shepard

Hopes rode high but failed to materialize into the anticipated outcome as Eagle River boys and girls varsity basketball teams dropped their Senior Night games to visiting Service High Saturday evening.

Both teams were stung by less than satisfactory second-half performances following a good start.

The Eagle River boys team had a three-point halftime lead against the Cougars that was swallowed up by a 27-8 scoring deficit in the fourth quarter. But the game started well with senior Brandon Metzel scoring the team's first five points, en route to a team-high 12 points.

Following Metzel's three-pointer, fellow senior Agustin Ortiz followed in fashion giving the team an 8-4 margin prior to a surge by Service, taking a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Ortiz provided a nice spark in the second half, with a pair of fastbreak baskets off steals in a 30-second span, with classmates Kyle Taylor and Buron Bell following suit to give the Wolves a 23-20 lead at halftime.

Things remained close through the third quarter, with the visiting Cougars again making a run, to take a one-point lead into the start of the fourth quarter.

Eagle River High coach Craig Harrison could not have been prepared for the team's impending meltdown.

"Too many turnovers – from poor guard play," he said.

The result was seven uncontested layups off steals that swung the game securely into Service's favor.

Harrison said the team's play between halves were as different as night and day, with the Wolves committing only three turnovers in the first half, compared to 11 in the second.

Eagle River was also stymied by poor free throw shooting, hitting only 12 of 26 attempts.

While the team got good scoring from some of their seniors, Harrison said that some of his standout players didn't emerge with their anticipated point production.

Despite the loss, along with those to Bartlett and Dimond earlier in the week, Harrison said the team has been showing steady progress in the last few games.

"The toughest part is that we have potential – but it's been potential unfulfilled," he said.

Harrison said junior Nate Yaw had a particularly good game Feb. 23 against Bartlett, scoring 15 points, 10 rebound, seven assists and six steals. "Nearly a quadruple double," he said.

The coach also highlighted the outing of senior Kyle Taylor, with a team-high 13 points, during the loss to Dimond Feb. 25.

The Wolves has a tough road before them, as last seed, and are scheduled to play top-ranked West in first-round Cook Inlet Conference tournament action this week.

"The good thing about the tournament is that everyone comes into this thing with a 0-0 record. Everyone gets a fresh start," he said.

The Wolves' girls team did not have much better luck Saturday, losing their Senior Night battle to Service 52-12. Girls coach Terra Bingham said she was pleased with the team's early play, though – "especially the first quarter," she said.

Despite the emotion associated with the seniors playing their last basketball game in front of family and friends on their home floor, Bingham said the senior-laden starters came out energized, setting the stage for a tremendous first half.

The Eagle River girls scored 10 points in the first half, one of their better outings yet, but managed just one basket in an abbreviated second half, shortened by a running clock throughout the four quarter.

The Wolves were tied early in the game, thanks to a free throw from junior Cassie Barsalou, then trailed by a basket by senior Sam Hurst.

Bingham said that Hurst has been one of the more pleasant surprises on the team this season.

"I am going to really miss that girl," she said, speaking of Hurst's tenacity around the basketball, and willingness to take a shot in traffic and to work hard under the boards.

Bingham said the team had success in their offensive rebounding for the first time this season.

"See how nice it is to shoot two or three times, rather than just once down the floor," said the coach, encouraging her team to even greater accomplishments as the team readies for their first-round Cook Inlet Conference tournament game against top-seeded Dimond this week.

Bingham said she had to work her players into the game, relegating the number of quarters played as the varsity team played four games in the week, along with three others for the junior varsity. Given that the two teams more or less share the same roster, players were given ample opportunity for game time last week.

"The whole week was a blur," Bingham said.

In order to advance to state, teams must win their first round game, then one more, either Friday or Saturday, to finish among the top three in the conference.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, March 4, 2010.