Monroe Basketball celebrates seven seniors with pair of wins

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Monroe Catholic Rams basketball is still displaced from their home gym, but that didn’t stop the Rams from honoring their seniors Tuesday night in the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center.

Both girls and boys teams were playing the North Pole Patriots. The girls team celebrated three seniors: Sophia Stepovich, Maggie Zaverl, and Isa Stewart.

The Rams girls got off to a slow start. Miranda Wilkerson making the lone field goal in the first quarter. Down six heading into the second quarter, Monroe outscored the Patriots, but still trailed by two at the half, 13-15.

The second half was where Monroe turned the corner. Shannel Kovalsky made a pair of threes and went 2-4 at the free throw line in the third, scoring eight of Monroe’s 12 third-quarter points. With eight minutes left to play, the Rams found themselves up eight.

It didn’t matter that the Rams were outscored in the fourth, the girls varsity program celebrated a 34-24 win over the Patriots. Zaverl was the leading scorer of the senior trio with eleven.

The Monroe boys celebrated four seniors: Ashton Huntington, Trevor Mahler, Jack Mavencamp, and Stefan Felix.

The game started with an example of genuine sportsmanship. One senior, Ashton Huntington, was injured, but was a starter on the court. North Pole let Monroe win the tip off, and Huntington dribbled the ball out of bounds to the North Pole head coach. Jett McCullough subbed in, and Huntington shared a special moment with coach, Frank Ostanik, suiting up one final time on senior night.

When gameplay resumed, the Rams were all over their 4A Mid Alaska Conference foe. The Rams offense scored 15 points in the first quarter, and the Patriots only managed to make one shot.

Monroe posted 20+ points in the second and third quarters (22 and 20 respectively). North Pole never scored more than seven points in a quarter.

Rams boys also win on senior night, 62-19. Jack Mavencamp was the leading senior scorer with thirteen. Felix added eight, and Mahler posted four.

The Monroe girls will next be in Valdez this weekend for a pair of 3A Aurora Conference games with the Buccaneers. The boys will be back in action, Thursday, March 2 playing the Malemutes in 4A Mid Alaska Conference basketball.

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