Emerging talent

WASILLA — Leading the Wasilla Warriors to a third-place finish during the 2008 4A state tournament could be tabbed as one of the finest efforts of Jeannie Hebert-Truax’ already illustrious prep coaching career.

Hebert-Truax’ Warriors featured only two upperclassmen, and there were two freshmen and a sophomore in the everyday starting lineup.

This season the longtime Wasilla head coach will be trying to do the same thing — lead a young squad to a top position in the state.

“We’re still pretty young,” Hebert-Truax said. “Obviously our stud is Jenna, but we’re still pretty young.”

Said stud is Jenna Johnson, Wasilla’s all-state guard who committed to Division I Utah State prior to the start of the season. While Johnson is the Warriors’ undisputed leader and a certain state player-of-the-year candidate, the biggest task for Hebert-Truax and her coaching staff is the mentoring of a talented sophomore class than will undeniably factor into the success of the program not only in the future, but this season.

Hebert-Truax’ group of sophomores on the varsity roster actually outnumbers all of the Warriors’ juniors and seniors combined.

There are five sophomores: guards Ashlyn Frizzelle, Hilary Apangolook and Leisl Brown; and forwards Celeste Colegrove and Kelsey Cottle.

Both Colegrove and Cottle started for much of their freshman season, with the 6-foot-4 Cottle gaining much attention, both literally and figuratively.

“We know everyone’s going to center on her,” Hebert-Truax said of Cottle.

With Cottle’s height and wing span, she is already a force on defense, disrupting everyone’s plans in the paint. Cottle is still a raw talent on offense, but one who’s evolving also.

Overall, Hebert-Truax said she’s been pleased with the progress of her sophomores.

“They’re young, but they’re definitely coming around,” Hebert-Truax said. “I see some good things. It’s just a matter of getting them to the point where they understand what we want.”

Johnson — a 5-9 guard who averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists per game last year en route to garnering Northern Lights Conference Player of the Year and first-team all-state honors — is the lone senior on the WHS squad. Guards Skyler Nuss and Carlee Naczi, and forward Jillian Troisi are juniors.

“I’m really impressed with Jillian Troisi just being a scrapper,” Hebert-Truax said. “(She’s) not turning the ball over and playing good defense.”

Hebert-Truax said she expects Troisi, a 5-8 forward, to take pressure off Cottle in the paint.

Troisi’s classmate, Nuss, will bring high-energy play on defense and Naczi is a versatile guard who the Warriors will need to shoot the ball, Hebert-Truax said.

Wasilla lost just one player to graduation, but an important player — point guard Shelby Fulton, who is now playing for Yakima Valley Community College in Washington.

Hebert-Truax said the Warriors are trying to fill the void left by Fulton.

“We’re still working on filling that,” Hebert-Truax said.

Three sophomores — Frizzelle, Apangolook and Brown — are seeing time at the position.

“They’re certainly getting a lot better,” Hebert-Truax said. “They’re certainly getting more confidence in themselves.”

The Warriors are currently 3-4 overall and 1-1 in NLC play. Three of Wasilla’s four losses came during the four-day Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School in December.

Wasilla will host Skyview at 10:45 a.m. on Friday.

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