Case of déja vu

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors must have had a case of déja vu Saturday afternoon.

The night before, after a one-point game at halftime, Wasilla used a 26-point third-quarter effort to secure a 54-38 win over the Kodiak Bears.

On Saturday, the Warriors found themselves in remarkably similar fashion.

Once again, facing a one-point game at halftime, the Warriors needed a 17-point third-quarter to post a 52-38 victory over the Bears.

“We knew it was going to be a grind and a battle,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said. “Our kids had to find a way to get through and keep battling.”

Wasilla sophomore forward Connor Devine scored nine of his game-high 17 points in the third quarter Saturday to lead Wasilla to the win, and help the Warriors improve to 6-0 in Northern Lights Conference play.

The 6-foot-7 Devine hit one of his two three-pointers during the third, and scored 14 of his game-high total during the second half.

On Friday, Devine scored 10 of his 13 points during Wasilla’s 26-point third.

“He’s been one of our go-to guys,” Engebretsen said of the sophomore. “He’s got a soft touch around the rim, and he’s always playing hard.”

Wasilla trailed 19-18 at halftime on Saturday. The teams were scoreless through the first two minutes of action, and Kodiak carried a slim 6-5 advantage into the second quarter.

“Amy’s a terrific coach,” Engebretsen said of Kodiak mentor Amy Fogle. “She gets her kids ready to play. They improve so much over the course of the season.”

Wasilla had to settle for just a pair of shots during the first quarter Saturday. Devine hit a three-pointer and senior Cody Pfiefer added two of his eight points.

The Warriors managed only seven second-quarter points on Friday.

“We couldn’t buy a bucket in the first half in either game,” Engebretsen said. “Some of that credit goes to Kodiak. They got after it. They were doing everything right defensively.”

But in each contest, Wasilla used a big third-quarter to jump to a lead.

“We just found a way to let our defense guide what we were doing offensively,” Engebretsen said.

Sophomore Braydon Kuiper scored seven of his team-high 16 points during the third quarter on Friday. Pfeifer added 12 in that win.

On Saturday, senior Drew Ford scored all eight of his points during the final 16 minutes and Wasilla put together a 34-point second half.

Kodiak, which dropped to 1-3 in conference play, will host Palmer on Tuesday and Wednesday in Kodiak.

The Moose were slated to play in Kodiak last weekend, but could not fly into Kodiak due to poor conditions on the island.

Wasilla will head north for a pair of nonconference games next weekend. The Warriors meet West Valley on Friday and Lathrop on Saturday.

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

Wasilla 54, Kodiak 38

Friday, Wasilla High School

Kodiak 11-8-6-13—38

Wasilla 13-7-26-8—54

Kodiak (38) — Fangonilo 2 1-3 7, Cowley 2 0-1 5, Matautia 9 1-5 19, Garner 1 5-6 7; Totals: 14 7-15 38.

Wasilla (54) — Schierman 1 0-0 2, Quenga 1 0-0 2, Kuiper 7 1-1 16, Stahle 1 0-0 3, Pfeifer 5 2-2 12, Devine 5 3-4 13, Ford 2 1-2 6; Totals: 22 7-9 54.

3-point field goals: Kodiak- 3 (Fangonilo 2), Wasilla 3 (Ford, Kuiper, Stahle 1); Total fouls: Kodiak 10, Wasilla 12.

Wasilla 52, Kodiak 38

Friday, Wasilla High School

Kodiak 6-13-9-10—38

Wasilla 5-13-17-17—52

Kodiak (38) — Fangonilo 2 2-2 7, Watkins 1 1-3 3, Cowley 4 0-0 10, Matautia 3 2-2 8, Garner 3 3-3 9, Bezona 0 1-2 1; Totals: 13 9-12 52.

Wasilla (52) — Schierman 0 0-1 0, Mock 3 1-2 7, Kuiper 2 2-2 6, Stahle 1 0-0 3, Pfeifer 4 0-1 8, Devine 6 3-4 17, Ford 3 1-1 8, Green 1 1-2 3; Totals: 20 8-12 52.

3-point field goals: Kodiak 2 (Cowley 2), Wasilla 4 (Devine 2).