Kyler Wilson (32) of Fairbanks attempts a shot against Kevin Reeves (left) of Columbus Academy. The Panthers dropped the Division III tournament contest, 43-30. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
A Columbus Academy team that was too long and quick ended the basketball season on Saturday evening for the Fairbanks Panthers.
Guard Tanner Compton scored 11 points and 6-6 post player Kevin Reeves added 10 as the Vikings defeated the Panthers, 43-30.
Columbus Academy went into the Division III tournament game as the No. 9 seed.
Fairbanks was one slot below at tenth.
The Panthers, however, hosted the game (higher seeds usually play at home) due to COVID-19 restrictions in Franklin County.
Both teams were sluggish getting into an offense to begin the contest.
The opening quarter neared the four-minute mark before Reeves went over 6-4 Braylon Green of Fairbanks for a basket.
The 2-0 lead didn’t last long as FHS’ Wyatte Miller stretched the strings on a three-pointer with 3:11 on the clock.
Miller’s offering, though, was matched by Randy Panley, whose trifecta returned a 5-3 edge to the Vikings.
Reeves came up with one of his five blocked shots to thwart an FHS possession.
“Reeves didn’t play that active when we scouted Academy last Wednesday,” said FHS coach Justin George.
The coach acknowledged Academy’s size advantage.
“We struggled with their length, especially during the first half,” he said. “We also committed 11 of our 14 total turnovers during that same time.”
Miller, however, drilled another three-ball as the Panthers went on top, 6-5.
A charity toss by Compton tied the game at 6-all by the end of the period.
Green was fouled along the baseline when play resumed. He made one free throw for a 7-6 FHS lead.
A three-ball by Henry Rubney stretched the Vikings’ lead to 11-7 with 4:09 remaining until halftime.
Green fed the ball to Kyler Wilson for a shot that pulled Fairbanks to within 11-9.
A jumper from Parker Logan and a pair of free throws by Sonari Hart, though, lifted the Vikings to a 15-9 margin.
The Panthers ran the time down, waiting for perhaps the final shot of the half.
An offering missed the basket, but Carter Schultz was on the spot for an offensive rebound.
He was fouled as he went back up to the rim.
Schultz hit a pair of free throws with 6.2 ticks on the timer.
Those shots narrowed FHS’ deficit to 15-11 by halftime.
Baskets from Schultz and Miller, plus free throws by Green, kept FHS within striking distance in the third set.
Green’s efforts from the stripe sliced Academy’s upper hand to 19-15 with 4:19 remaining in the quarter.
The Panthers continued their rally on five straight points by Wilson.
He first scored after his own miss that pulled Fairbanks to within 21-17.
Academy missed a shot on its end of the floor.
Action moved in the opposite direction.
Green saved the ball from going out of bounds by passing underneath the FHS hoop.
Wilson snared the sphere, scored and was fouled.
His free throw closed FHS’ gap to 21-20 with 3:09 to play in the quarter.
Free throws by Compton over the last few minutes sent Columbus Academy into the fourth set with 25-20 spread.
Schultz hit a jumper early in the fourth quarter, narrowing FHS’ deficit to 25-22.
At that point, the Vikings’ offense caught fire.
Both Green and teammate Trey Good were saddled with four fouls and Academy took advantage by going to the hoop or shooting from outside.
A three-ball by Rubney stretched Academy’s lead to 30-22.
Miller sank another shot, pulling the Panthers to within 30-24.
With slightly more than five minutes to play, the Vikings began pulling away.
Baskets by Brian Hess and Compton elevated Columbus Academy’s spread to 36-24.
The Panthers (who finished with a 16-7 record) couldn’t get the lead to less than double digits the rest of the way.
Columbus Academy
Compton 1-9-11, Reeves 4-2-10, Rubney 2-3-9, Logan 1-2-4, Panley 1-0-3, Hess 1-0-2, Hill 1-0-2, Hart 0-2-2. Totals 11-18-43.
Three-point goals: Rubney 2, Panley 1.
Fairbanks
Miller 4-0-10, Wilson 3-1-7, Schultz 1-4-6, Green 0-4-4, Higinbotham 1-1-3, Good 0-0-0, Tobe 0-0-0, Rausch 0-0-0, Ziegler 0-0-0. Totals 9-10-30.
Three-point goals: Miller 2.