Petersburg’s high school basketball teams played their final home games of the season last weekend, Feb. 8 and 9. The Vikings and Lady Vikings lost all four varsity games but made impressive strides, according to their coaches.
The last girls varsity game against the Metlakatla Miss Chiefs was notably intense for the Lady Vikings. They had spent several weeks training for aggressive competition, and although Lady Vikings coach Matt Pawuk said they still have room to grow, he noticed a difference in that final home game.
“I think we’re finding that switch that you can flip when you step on the court of like … I’m going to be a really nice kid off the floor, but now I’m a competitor, and those are my opponents,” said Pawuk. “But, you know, you don’t throw sportsmanship out the window when you do that … you want other teams to play hard against you, because that’s them respecting your ability.”
The teams competed closely throughout the game, but Metlakatla stayed ahead of Petersburg. The Lady Vikings lost 24–31, a closer point margin than the prior game, which ended 29–48.
Pawuk said the Lady Vikings expected more from themselves for that final home game, and it showed.
It was “one of the few games this year” where the team stayed focused for the full 32 minutes, he said. “And when we have those games … we could play with anybody.”
“They’re out there playing hard. And I want it to be high energy. I want it to be intense. And I think that we did that,” said Pawuk. “I think they were fun to watch … they were fun to coach.”
Pawuk’s proud of the team’s progress.
“All of this is just preparation and work to get us ready for regionals. And the thing that I’m excited about is seeing growth in the areas that we had been struggling,” he said. “We’re getting better and better.”
Vikings coach Rick Brock shared a similar outlook.
“We are getting better, but it’s sometimes hard to tell if you just look at the score, it’s hard to tell based on that,” Brock said. “But yeah absolutely, I can tell … we’re getting better and stronger.”
The Vikings lost 38–76 the first game, but cut down that point margin by more than half the second game, which they lost 29–44.
Despite the back-to-back losses over the weekend, Brock said the boys varsity team “competed harder on both ends of the court and matched Metlakatla’s physicality” during that final home game against the Chiefs.
“On Saturday I felt we, from the beginning, just played with more positive energy and played the way that we wanted to play. And that’s an important step,” he said. “You want to compete the way… that you play best at.”
Brock said the Vikings play well when they work together for the “best shot,” helping each other on the offensive end of the court. He said it’ll be important to continue that progress in the next few weeks leading up to the regional tournament.
“And, just as important,” he added, “just having that feeling of believability … in our own selves, that we can play and can compete against anybody.”
The last basketball games coincided with senior appreciation night, recognizing graduating students for their participation, as well as cancer awareness night, accepting donations to Seattle Children’s Foundation.
For the first time in years, Petersburg High School senior Joseph Tagaban, who’s in remission from cancer, took the court for the start of Petersburg’s final home game.
Metlakatla players stood by while Tagaban made the first basket for the Vikings. Supporters cheered and chanted his name from the stands.
Brock said, because Tagaban couldn’t fully participate in the sport during his high school career, his basket meant a lot to the team.
“I thought it was very special for our school to provide an opportunity for him to get on the court … just a nice way to show our appreciation as a basketball program for what he means to us as a classmate and a teammate,” Brock said. “One of his loves is basketball and, you know, he grew up playing with these guys. And it was special for everybody, I think, to see him be able to get on the court and participate with them.”
Brock thanked Metlakatla and game organizers for their coordination “to give him a chance to put a uniform on and get out and play.”
There are only a couple of basketball games left until the regional tournament. The Vikings and Lady Vikings will next compete in Haines on Feb. 14 and 15.
