An unexpected thing happened on the rifle range at Dimond High Friday: The Chugiak Mustangs lost.

The Mustangs ran into a buzz saw, dropping all seven varsity points in the match with a very gracious host, said Chugiak head coach Marcy Gentemann.

A week after setting a new Region IV record with 1,162 points, the Chugiak A team fired a 1,136 - a mere 10 points under what would have been required for the Mustangs to carry the day with another 4-3, matching the team's scores from nearly every other match this season.

"I'm still very proud of them - I thought they showed good sportsmanship," she added Saturday.

Megan Martin fired a team-high 287 points to lead the Chugiak A team.

"She's been our anchor - very consistent," Gentemann said.

Gentemann also praised the performance of B team member Nate Sinerius who fired a career-high 273. "I think that was his best ever - by 12 points or so," she said.

Dimond's domination in the sport was complete as the host Lynx won the B competition level, 1,126-1,081 and C team, 1,095-954.

The Eagle River B and C teams recorded yet another win and remain unbeaten, except for their shortfall to Dimond on Oct. 30.

"My B and C teams are very competitive," said Eagle River High coach Jeff Parker.

Parker noted that his team's 4-3 loss was actually very close, with the four-point swing to South in the visiting Wolverine's one-point margin of victory was due to a 1,128-1,118 win at the A team level.

"It was a really close match. I am really pleased because everyone shot really well," said the coach.

Eagle River High junior Anne Hopkin shot a 289, including a perfect 100 from the prone position, to match South's Amber Poston for day's best honors.

"She really wants to break 290 - and she's going to do it," said Parker.

The local coach handed out accolades to nearly every athletes wearing the red and brown shooting outfits of Eagle River.

Parker said it is only a matter of time before the conference adopts an amended scoring format, giving equal weight to B and C teams. Currently A team wins yield four points, along with two for B squads, and one for C.

"There have been times when we've gone against schools with only six shooters - and lost, because they win the A team division, and my B and C teams don't even get a chance to shoot. That's not right," said the coach.

Chugiak's Gentemann agreed.

"I think the B and C teams should get more credit than what they're getting," she said.

Parker said he had 16 shooters at the point for the meet, being able to sport a rare D team entry.

One of his D shooters, first-year team member Harley Campbell, fired a meet tally of 230 - the squad's lowest.

"And she's shooting a side-cocking rifle that's 25 years old," Parker said.

The coach said that Campbell has shot a 260 in practice from the same rifle.

Parker said he's planning on bringing all 16 shooters to Monday's Mayors 100 Meet at Bartlett.

Gentemann said she expects to have 12 athletes in the event.

Both local teams have one remaining match, to be held Dec. 4, before the Region IV Champions at West High Dec. 11-12.

Eagle River ends the regular season hosting West, with Chugiak traveling to Service Dec. 4, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

You can reach the reporter at editor@alaskastar.com.