Cronk nails game-winner in Warrior win

WASILLA -- Chandice Cronk banked a jump shot off the glass with just five seconds remaining in regulation to give Wasilla a 47-46 win over Lathrop in prep basketball action at Wasilla High School on Friday.

After Wasilla held the advantage for much of the contest, Lathrop took a temporary lead with just 3 minutes and 39 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Malemutes extended their lead to as many as four and led by three with less than a minutes remaining in regulation.

With 36 seconds left in the fourth, Abby Bulawa hit a pair of free throws to cut the Lathrop advantage to 46-45.

Nine seconds later Cronk stole a Lathrop pass and quickly called timeout to give Wasilla one final chance.

Following the break, Wasilla moved the ball around the perimeter and Jaime Brown passed the ball to Cronk, who stood just beyond the arc on the left side of the court. As the seconds ticked off the clock, Cronk took a few steps toward the basket and lifted the shot toward the bucket.

"We had Chandice as the first option and Megan Stearman as the second," Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said. "They were both covered at first and then [Chandice] took it to the basket."

Wasilla used a 14-8 run in the second quarter to hold a 17-11 halftime lead over the state's top ranked team in the 4A girls' class. The second-ranked Warriors prevented the Malemute comeback despite a strong second half from Lathrop.

"The kids did a good job handling it," Hebert-Truax said. "They haven't been in many close games. They didn't freak out once."

Cronk scored five of her game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter and Bulawa added six very important points.

"Six huge points," Hebert-Truax said.

Wasilla also corralled a very potent Lathrop offense to under 50 points in the game and just three points in the first quarter. The Malemutes lit up a very good Colony team for 72 points the night before.

The Warriors also held Lathrop stars Kari Reabold and Alayna Clooton to just 14 and 12 points respectively.

"Clooton got her points, but she had to work for them," Hebert-Truax said. "We played great defense."

Lathrop boys win

Lathrop defeated the Wasilla boys 53-41 on Friday at Wasilla High School. The Malemutes stormed out to an early 13-4 first quarter lead in the contest.

Ben Nehr led the Warriors with 14 points.

Warrior boys win

Matt Crane scored 26 points and led the Warriors to a 66-47 non-conference win over West Valley on Saturday.

Robbie Champion added 11 points for Wasilla.

Patriots top Knights

Despite a 23-point performance from Justin Schwartzbauer, the Colony Knights dropped a 49-46 non-conference contest to North Pole at Colony High School on Saturday.

Chris Powell scored 16 to lead the Patriots.

Knights girls

defeat North Pole

Colony used a 10-5 first-quarter run to edge North Pole for a 46-40 non-conference victory at Colony High School on Saturday.

Jessica Dault led Colony with 17 points.

Malemutes defeat

Moose girls

Lathrop allowed Palmer to just nine points in each of the last three quarters and defeated the Moose 64-41 at Palmer High on Saturday.

Keisha Hooker led Palmer with 21 points in the game and finished 8-8 from the free throw line.

Reabold scored 19 for Lathrop.

Juneau defeats Palmer girls

Juneau erased an early 14-8 deficit to defeat Palmer 50-43 at Palmer High School on Friday.

Emily Bolling scored a game-high 22 in the loss.

Knight girls top

West Valley

Kristina Klapperich scored 12 points, while Margaret Morris and Dualt each added 10, to lead Colony past West Valley 46-42 on Friday.

Knight boys

earn win

Five players scored for the Knights, and all five hit double digits as Colony earned a 60-50 win over West Valley at Colony High School on Friday.

Rhett Magner scored a team-high 17 points in the win. Schwartzbauer scored 12 points, Kyle Coffman added 11 and Mike Benson and Ricky Cunningham each chipped in 10 points.

Hawks earn wins in Valdez Tourney

The Houston boys placed fourth in the Valdez Elks Tournament with a 42-40 win over Cordova. The Hawks moved into the tournament's consolation final with a 53-36 win over Vanier Catholic of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

The Houston girls defeated Craig 55-30 on the final day of tournament action.

Rams go

1-3 on weekend

The Su Valley girls split a pair of games over the weekend and the boys dropped two contests.

The Ram girls defeated Minto 48-35 and lost to Ninilchik 64-16.

The boys lost to Minto 84-62 and Ninilchik 61-42.