ASC snuffs rally from Wasilla girls

WASILLA — It took more than 29 minutes for Wasilla to take its first lead, but it only took four minutes for Anchorage Christian School to crush a Warrior rally.

ACS outscored Wasilla 8-2 during an extra four-minute period to grab a 62-56 nonconference win over the Warriors at Wasilla High School Saturday afternoon.

“It was tough playing catch-up for most of the game,” Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said.

Anchorage Christian’s Anna Simmers scored 12 of her game-high 31 points during the first quarter and helped the Lions jump to the early lead.

ACS opened the game on a 9-1 run, and led 20-12 after the first eight minutes of play.

“They’re a good team,” Hebert-Truax said of an ACS squad that captured a 3A state title in 2008. “They know how to take care of the ball and Anna definitely knows how to go to the basket.”

Wasilla senior Jenna Johnson scored a team-high 20 and helped the Warriors erase a double-digit first-half deficit.

Simmers hit a mid-range jumper early in the second quarter to give the Lions the 10-point lead, but Wasilla used a 10-2 run to pull within a possession of ACS at the end of the first half.

“We could have folded but the kids came back,” Hebert-Truax said.

Johnson sparked the run by driving to the basket to cut ACS’ lead to 28-20. Sophomore Ashlynn Frizzelle hit a three-pointer with 1:09 left in the half to narrow Wasilla’s deficit to 30-26.

“I think that was the biggest positive out of the game. We were getting some scoring from other people besides Jenna Johnson,” said Hebert-Truax, who noted the work of Frizzelle, junior Skyler Nuss and sophomore Kelsey Cottle specifically.

Cottle scored eight of her 11 points in the third quarter, Nuss added eight points and Frizzelle chipped in seven.

“We’ve got to get scoring from our other positions,” Hebert-Truax said.

Johnson gave the Warriors their first lead of the game when she hit a pair of free throws with 2:43 left in regulation. The Warriors’ only other lead of the night came when Johnson drove the baseline to give Wasilla the 54-53 advantage.

Simmers hit the game-tying free throw with about 20 seconds remaining in regulation to knot the score at 54-54. The ACS guard also had a chance to post the game-winner during the final possession of regulation, but her attempt from the paint bounced off the glass and Wasilla forward Jillian Troisi was able to pull down the rebound to send the game into overtime.

Debbie Simmers, who added 18 points in the win, used a three-point play to open the extra period. Simmers drove to the basket, hit the lay-up, drew the foul and nailed the free throw to give ACS the 57-54 lead.

Johnson posted Wasilla’s lone bucket of the extra frame, with 1:09 left in overtime.

Hebert-Truax said the Lions were simply able to grab the momentum early during the extra period.

“It’s a big advantage to score first in overtime,” Hebert-Truax said.

Despite the loss, Hebert-Truax said the Warriors are still working to keep progressing as teams reach the final stretch of the regular season.

“I think my girls are learning every game things we need to do,” Hebert-Truax said.

Wasilla has three regular-season games remaining and all are at home. On Thursday, Wasilla hosts Northern Lights Conference foe Kodiak and the Warriors will entertain West Valley and North Pole in a pair of nonconference dates over the weekend.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Anchorage Christian 62,

Wasilla 59 OT

Saturday, Wasilla High School

ACS 20-10-18-6-8—62

Wasilla 12-15-18-9-2—56

ACS (62) — K. Dyson 2 0-0 4, C. Dyson 2 0-1 4, D. Simmers 5 8-9 18, A. Simmers 12 5-11 31, Willis 0 1-2 1, Snyder 2 0-0 4; Totals: 23 13-22 62.

Wasilla (56) — Frizzelle 3 0-0 7, Apangolook 0 4-4 4, Nuss 3 2-4 8, Brown 1 0-0 3, Johnson 8 4-8 20, Davis 0 1-2 1, Troisi 1 0-0 2, Cottle 5 1-2 11; Totals; 21 12-20 56.

Three-point field goals: ACS 2 (A. Simmers 2), Wasilla 2 (Frizzelle, Brown 1); Total fouls: ACS 14, Wasilla 17.