Semifinals: Chugiak girls 45, Wasilla 35, FINAL

By MATT TUNSETH

Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE -- Chugiak galloped into the state title game with a wire-to-wire 45-35 win over the Wasilla Warriors in the girls Class 4A semifinal round Friday at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

Eight players scored for the Mustangs which used a balanced attack to counter Wasilla's one-woman show in junior Jenna Johnson, who led all scorers with 20 points.

“They're a good team and they know how to play basketball,” Wasilla coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said of the Mustangs, which racked up 14 assists on their 17 total field goals.

Sarah Watzke and Liz Meddaugh each scored 10 points to lead Chugiak.

The Mustangs reached the finals for the first time since 2003, when they won it all over Wasilla, which was looking to repeat as state champions.

Chugiak opened the game on a 9-0 run as the Warriors missed their first five shots from the field. The theme would continue for the Warriors in the second quarter, as the defending state champions finished the half shooting just 18 percent from the field, trailing 23-13 at the half.

Johnson was the lone bright spot for the Warriors early, contributing seven points to lead all scorers in the first half, but the Mustangs consistently used precision cuts and sharp passing to slice up the Wasilla man-to-man defense. On their 11 first half field goals, the Mustangs were credited with eight assists.

Neither team did much offensively in the third, with the Warriors cutting the lead to 28-22 on the strength of seven third-quarter points from Johnson. The Warriors also switched to a trapping zone defense midway through the quarter in an effort to throw a monkey wrench in Chugiak's deliberate offensive attack.

The tactic seemed to briefly rattle the Mustangs, whose guards struggled against the relentless backcourt pressure applied by Johnson, Shelby Fulton and Skyler Nuss. But the Mustangs eventually caught on to the ploy and returned to form, opening the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to pull away.

Though Johnson had a big game, no other Wasilla player had more than four points.

“The best way to defend them is to score, and we didn't do that,” Hebert-Truax said.

The win was Chugiak's third in three tries against Wasilla this season.

“They are a way good team,” Johnson said.

Despite the loss, Johnson said the Warriors still consider this year a success, considering the Warriors feature just two upperclassmen -- Fulton, a senior, and Johnson.

“We got further than ourselves and anyone expected,” Johnson said. “We have nothing to be ashamed of.”

The loss dropped Wasilla into Saturday morning's 9 a.m. third-place game against Palmer. Chugiak advanced to Saturday night's championship game at 6 p.m. against Colony. Both games are at Sullivan Arena.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tusneth@froniersman.com

MUSTANGS 45, WARRIORS 35

Chugiak 13 10 5 17 -- 45

Wasilla 4 9 9 13 -- 35

Chugiak (45) -- S. Watzke 3 4-4 10, Murphy 3 0-0 8, E. Watzke 0 1-2 1, Meddaugh 5 0-0 10, Sayer 2 2-4 6, Clifford 2 2-3 6, Weiss 1 0-2 2, Schwenne 1 0-0 2. Totals: 17 9-15 45.

Wasilla (35) -- Fulton 2 0-0 4, Nuss 2 0-1 4, Naczi 1 0-0 3, Johnson 5 10-13 20, Colegrove 1 0-3 2, Cottle 1 0-0 2. Totals: 12 10-17 35.

Three-point field goals -- Chugiak 2 (Murphy 2), Wasilla 1 (Naczi). Total fouls -- Chugiak 15, Wasilla 16. Fouled out -- Fulton.