Defense sparks Wasilla; Warriors rout Skyview

PALMER — For the Wasilla Warriors boys’ basketball team, it all starts with defense.

“We’re trying to get that mentality going,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said after his team’s 79-33 win over the Skyview Panthers on Thursday at Palmer High School. It was part of the first round of the Northern Lights Conference Championships. “And let the offense take care of itself.”

That’s exactly what happened.

Wasilla used a devastating press to get the early lead, and coasted, thanks to a steady supply of buckets on the offensive side of the floor.

“We wanted to get things going; push the tempo,” Wasilla senior Shane Green said.

Thanks to opportunities created by its defense, Wasilla took an early 8-0 lead with three-pointers from Dexter Pearce and Adrese LaVern. The Warriors hit nine shots from behind the arc in the win, a number that included a game-high four three-pointers for Pearce.

While Wasilla’s usual cast of characters — Dexter Pearce (14 points), Tyler Johannes (11 points) and Adrese LaVern (10 points) — did their damage, Wasilla also had significant contributions from a few of its lesser-known talents.

Senior Jimmy Sliwa was particularly strong in the second quarter, providing seven of his nine points in that period.

“Jimmy’s terrific,” Engebretsen said. “He’s a great athlete, does his role really well and shines when he gets his moment.”

Every Warrior who saw action in the game recorded at least one field goal, and Engebretsen got a good look at some of his future stars. Freshman David Green had six points in the second half and Cody Pfeiffer, another underclassman, added four.

When looking at a schedule that will include games in three consecutive days, Engebretsen said it’s always good to get a lot of guys on the court during the first-round contest.

“It’s nice for the legs,” Engebretsen said. “It always helps out.”

The Wasilla defense also prevented Skyview’s biggest threat, center Rich Shirnberg, from doing his usual damage.

Shane Green, Wasilla’s 5-foot-10 center, said it was his job to defend Skyview’s 6-5 beast. Green studied a Skyview film the night before and said the game plan was simple — “Not letting him touch the ball.”

“And it worked out,” Green said.

The Warriors held Shirnberg to only six points, and Shirnberg didn’t get his first bucket until just prior to the three-minute mark of the second quarter.

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

WARRIORS 79, PANTHERS 33

Northern Lights Conference Championships

Thursday, Palmer High School

Wasilla 18 21 27 13 — 79

Skyview 9 12 6 6 — 33

WASILLA (79) — Gray 2 1-1 5, Kroon 1 1-2 3, Sliwa 4 0-0 9, LaVern 4 0-0 10, Pearce 5 0-0 14, Johannes 5 0-0 11, Green 4 0-0 8, Flowers 1 2-2 4, Knowles 1 0-0 2, Green 3 0-0 6, Pfeiffer 2 0-0 4, Quenga 1 0-0 3. Totals: 33 5-10 79.

SKYVIEW (33) — Thornton 1 0-0 2, West 1 2-3 4, Hatten 4 0-1 8, Schadle 3 0-0 6, Havey 3 0-0 7, Shirnberg 2 2-2 6. Totals: 14 4-6 33.

Three-point field goals — Wasilla 9 (Pearce 4, LaVern 2, Sliwa, Johannes, Quenga), Skyview 1 (Havey). Total fouls — Wasilla 10, Skyview 9. Fouled out — none.