Early run sparks Wasilla girls

ANCHORAGE — An 11-day break didn’t seem to phase the Wasilla Warriors.

Wasilla jumped out to a 21-1 lead and held on to score a 53-42 win over Chugiak during the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Championships girls’ quarterfinals late Thursday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

“That’s the first time all season we’ve had a start like that,” Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said after the win. “The kids were ready to play, ready to go after it.”

Senior Taylor Anderson sparked the Warriors with an early three, and junior Cheyenne Green and senior Azlynn Brandenburg also hit jumpers during the opening moments of the game. Chugiak didn’t get its first field goal until Ariana Lewis hit a short baseline jumper with 1:11 left in the first quarter.

Hebert-Truax said her Warriors built a big enough cushion to weather Chugiak’s runs.

“Then we just had to grind it out there,” Hebert-Truax said.

With the win, third-seeded Wasilla moves forward to face second-seeded East Anchorage Friday night at 8 p.m. in the girls’ semifinals. Hebert-Truax said when Chugiak had success on the offensive side, the Warriors were giving the Mustangs extra opportunity. Hebert-Truax said that will have to change against East.

Junior Olivia Davies led Wasilla with 15 points, seven assists, six steals, four blocks and four rebounds in the win. Green added 13 points and six boards. Brandenburg, who shot 6 of 9 from the field, added a dozen.

Chasity Horn scored a game-high 20 for Chugiak.

Wasilla, which won its fourth straight Northern Lights Conference title nearly two weeks ago, is the two-time defending state champion.

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

Wasilla 53, Chugiak 42

4A girls quarterfinals

Thursday, Anchorage

Chugiak 5-11-9-17—42

Wasilla 21-6-13-13—53

Chugiak (42) — C. Houser 1 0-0 2, Horn 7 4-4 20, Lewis 3 2-3 8, P. Houser 3 2-3 8, Beam 2 0-0 4; Totals: 16 8-11 42.

Wasilla (53) — Brandenburg 6 0-0 12, Davies 3 9-10 15, Obremski 3 1-3 7, C. Green 6 1-2 13; Totals: 20 11-16 53.