Athlete of the Week: After knocking on the door for 3 years, Hendrik Cumps leads Petersburg to state title

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - For the longest time, Petersburg boys basketball seemed to be stuck in the mud. Over that span, the Vikings had lost three separate games to Metlakatla, all of them coming in the 2A regional tournament.

“We lost my first three years of high school to the same team in the region championship,” Petersburg senior Hendrik Cumps said. “So we knew this year that we had to come out strong.”

That mentality helped their fortunes change. The Vikings toppled the Chiefs 49-42 on Mar. 8.

“We knew we could celebrate, but we weren’t done yet,” Cumps said. “We had three more games here.”

In three state tournament games last week, the confidence of the Vikings lineup continued to shine.

In a flash, that process had led to a March Madness Alaska championship game against the Hooper Bay Warriors — a team that had only lost two games all season.

“We knew that this is where we wanted to be at the end of the year and step by step, we got it,” Cumps said.

The game was tight from the tipoff, with the Warriors holding a 22-20 lead at halftime.

But this team never faltered, and Cumps’ performance certainly helped. The senior finished the night with a double-double, notching 14 points and 14 rebounds — statistical highs for both teams. The performance helped lead the Vikings on a game-sealing run defeating the Warriors 41-33 as the final horn sounded.

“He just did an outstanding job,” Vikings coach Rick Brock said. “You need guys to rise to the occasion, and he 100% did.”

And despite his huge game, Cumps was quick to heap praise on his teammates.

“I’m able to play like that because my teammates are giving me the ball, getting into position, and playing good defense,” Cumps said. “We’re strong all together.”

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