Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic starts Thursday with 8 boys teams, 4 girls squads

WASILLA — Since helping to bring the Doc Larson Roundball Classic to Wasilla High School seven years ago, Warriors boys basketball head coach Ryan Engebretsen and his fellow tournament organizers have been working toward the chance to host eight boys teams within the annual three-day holiday event.

The wait is over.

The tournament, which starts Thursday at Wasilla High School, has been expanded to include a full eight-team boys bracket, in addition to a four-team girls’ round-robin bracket.

The 2015 boys field includes five Alaska programs (Barrow, Colony, Juneau-Douglas, West Anchorage and the host Warriors) and three teams from outside the state.

“Overall, on paper, it was by far the most enjoyable bracket to create,” Engebretsen said.

A big part of that enjoyment for Engebretsen came from actually having eight teams to work with, particularly the three teams from outside Alaska. Engebretsen said he was elated when he received the confirmed travel itinerary for the programs.

“We’ve had eight teams before, but a couple teams bailed,” Engebretsen said.

In addition to the Alaska programs, the boys’ field will include the Ambridge Bridgers of Ambridge, Pennsylvania; the Coronodo Cougars of Henderson, Nevada; and the Lincoln Cardinals of Portland, Oregon.

“Ambridge has a really strong point guard and Coronado brings a ton of size,” Engebretsen said. “Lincoln plays in a really tough conference in Portland.”

Each of the three out-of-state programs have already started their seasons. Ambridge is 3-0. Last season, the Bridgers were 17-9 overall, 9-5 in conference play and advanced to the second round of their postseason tournament. Lincoln is 2-0 this season. Last year, the Cardinals finished 16-9 overall, 11-4 in conference and suffered a loss during the first round of their postseason tournament. Coronado is off to a 2-2 start. The Cougars were 17-5 overall, 10-0 in conference and made it to the second round of their postseason tourney.

The three out-of-state teams are part of a Roundball Classic field that includes a few of the top programs from Alaska. The bracket will feature a pair of Alaska defending state champions. West Anchorage is the defending 4A state champ, and Barrow is fresh off winning the 3A state title. There is also Colony, which finished third in the 4A state tournament last year.

“I’m really looking forward to it. It could very much be the most dynamic of any field we’ve ever had, especially considering the Alaska teams participating in it,” Engebretsen said.

Engebretsen noted some of the Alaska talent included in the field, including West guard Da’Zhon Wyche, the 4A player of the year last season, and Barrow sophomores Kamaka Hepa and Travis Adams, who have both garnered national attention early in their high school careers.

Engrebretsen helped create the tournament to provide local fans with a quality holiday basketball tournament. But in addition to the action on the court, Engebretsen said, organizers strive to give the players from the out-of-state team a, “true Alaskan experience.”

Engebretsen said planned activities include mushing and snowmachining, but those plans may be contingent on weather. Engebretsen said Rock On Climbing Gym in Wasilla has also offered its facility to provide an off-the-court activity for the players in the tournament.

The boys’ tournament starts Thursday at noon with Lincoln facing Barrow. The first round also includes Colony against Coronado at 3:20 p.m., West against Juneau-Douglas at 5 p.m. and Wasilla hosting Ambridge at 8:20 p.m.

There will be four boys games each day. The championship game is slated for Saturday at 7 p.m.

The girls field includes four teams: Wasilla, Barrow, Lincoln and Coronado. The Alaska teams each posted top-4 finishes at state last season. Barrow was third in the 3A class and Wasilla was fourth in the 4A bracket.

Lincoln is off to a 1-2 start this year. Last year the Cardinals finished 18-7 overall and 14-2 in conference play. Coronado is 2-6 this year. Last year the Cougars finished 18-11 overall and 7-4 in conference. Coronado meets Lincoln in the girls’ bracket Thursday at 1:40 p.m. Wasilla hosts Barrow at 6:40 p.m. Thursday. Friday, Lincoln plays Barrow at 1:40 p.m. and Wasilla hosts Coronado at 6:40 p.m. Saturday, Barrow plays Coronado at 12:20 p.m. and Wasilla hosts Lincoln at 5:40 p.m.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.