Defending state champs quickly fill void left by graduation

WASILLA — With the loss of three forwards to graduation last year, including 6-foot-5 all-state post Kelsey Cottle, it’s natural to assume the Wasilla Warriors would sport a smaller look this season.

But that’s not the case for the defending state champions. Despite the losses, Wasilla still features a trio of 6-footers in the starting lineup.

Longtime Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax even admitted when she said goodbye to four-year starters Cottle and Celeste Colegrove, and reserve Kalli Johannes, she’d be dealing with a shorter bunch. But her talented junior class includes 6-footers Kyla Dinkal, Alysha Devine and Savanna Burke.

With that group, Hebert-Truax can ensure the Warriors will use a taller-than-average lineup throughout the year, but the Wasilla mentor believes the Warriors bring something unique to the table.

“We’re tall as well as quick,” Hebert-Truax said recently. “We’re faster than we’ve been in previous years, and probably better shooters.”

Those attributes have allowed the defending state champions to develop their game and offer opponents something different to deal with.

“We’ve become more versatile to me,” Hebert-Truax said. “We can do more things. I really like it.”

With players such as Devine and Dinkel, Hebert-Truax said the Warriors can post them up or bring them out to the perimeter and take advantage of their mid-range game. Both of those players saw valuable playing time during Wasilla’s run to its fifth appearance in a state championship game since 2002 and second title since 2007. The Warriors lost standout Alyssa Hutchins to injury during the Northern Lights Conference tournament last season and graduated senior Leisl Brown, who battled injury throughout the 2011 state tournament. With Wasilla facing those issues, Devine and Dinkel stepped in to play big minutes.

Hutchins, now a senior, and Alexis Imoe also return to complete a dangerous Wasilla starting five.

“We’re fast at all five positions,” Hebert-Truax said.

Both Hutchins and Imoe were named first-team All-NLC last season, and the Wasilla coach continues to see them improve.

“They’ve played a lot of basketball and are getting better and better,” Hebert-Truax said.

Hutchins, a UAA recruit, and Imoe make up the regular starting backcourt for Wasilla, but Hebert-Truax also has some key reserves coming off the bench. Leading that group could be senior Pherrari Brumbaugh, who transferred from Colony. Hebert-Truax said Brumbaugh, a second-team All-NLC selection with the Knights last season, is adjusting to her new role with the Warriors, but doing very well. Brumbaugh was a starter with the Knights last season, but Hebert-Truax said the senior is embracing her new job as a key guard coming off the bench.

“She’s doing great things,” Hebert-Truax said. “She’s a great kid, and adds another ball-handler and shooter.”

Wasilla also has a freshman that adds to the overall team height, 6-1 Angel Garcia. While Cottle was put right into the starting lineup — partly out of need — as a freshman, Hebert-Truax said the Warriors will able to let Garcia grow as a player.

Wasilla is already off to a 6-0 start. The Warriors won the Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic in December and started NLC play with a win over Palmer last week. Wasilla also traveled to Barrow and beat the defending 3A state champion Whalers twice last weekend.

Wasilla continues play at Kodiak this weekend.

** Editor’s note: This is part of a series of features previewing the seasons of the local 4A prep basketball squads. For more see frontiersman.com/sports.