Cordova hosted junior high basketball squads from Yakutat here to wrap up their junior high season. A shortage of players for the visiting Eagles required some creative scheduling.
On both Nov. 21 and Nov. 22, the four boys from Yakutat were mixed in with the deep Wolverines squad to play high scoring, up-tempo games in which Cordova displayed several promising stars of the future.
“I asked the boys if some of them would like to fill out the Yakutat team, and they decided they would rather play against one and another,” said Coach Josh Pearson.
It worked out well, with good basketball and a chance for parents and fans to see what will be coming up for the future Wolverines. Cordova graduated four out of five starters on the CHS squad that narrowly lost the State 2A 2025 final.
Yakutat brought seven girls, including two fifth graders. Cordova, with a deep bench, opted to play only its younger ones in the Friday game so everyone would get some court time. The scrappy Eagles won by 36-20.
Saturday, it was the bigger Wolverines versus the speedy Eagles. Cordova jumped out to an 8-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. Yakutat was down 13-15 at half time and 19-21 after three periods but hit a key three-pointer with less than a minute left to pull away and win 30-27.
The Eagles pressed the entire game and caused many turnovers. Cordova dominated the boards, but missed several inside put backs.
Turns out Yakutat girls defeated Cordova in similar close games at Yakutat two weeks prior to this matchup.
