Full-court press

WASILLA — The Newberg Tigers should take some advice from Admiral Ackbar in the sixth episode of George Lucas’ masterpiece, “Star Wars.” Ackbar famously exclaimed, “It’s a trap!”

Newberg never got the memo and the Warriors rode their half-court trap defense to a 59-30 romp over the Tigers from Newberg, Ore., to win the team title at the second annual Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic.

Time and again, Newberg guards brought the ball to the corner of the floor, looking for an entry pass to center Alex Green. The result was a whistle on nearly every possession, whether for a foul or a jump ball.

Unfamiliar with Wasilla’s 6-foot-6 post Kelsey Cottle, the Tigers had little other strategy than ball movement and post play. No matter how well a team moves the ball around the paint, the long arms of Cottle are there to deny an entry to the hoop.

Wasilla easily handled the Tigers, who never scored double digits in a quarter. However feeble the Tigers shot attempts were, Wasilla also did not have easy shots from the paint, as Newberg’s posts defended the middle well.

That level of defensive focus on Cottle is not rare, however. The Warriors use multiple strategies to keep their offense effective without feeding the ball to Cottle. Wasilla’s guards did not mind the attention paid to Cottle, as the team sank 43 percent of it’s second-half three-pointers.

Alexis Imoe took the ball past the high post screen through the wide open paint to score easy layups and finished tied for a game high with 11 points.

Celeste Colegrove also capitalized on the defense given to Cottle. With the guards running the ball through Cottle at the top of the key, Colegrove sank beneath the basket and took Cottle’s assists to the basket with ease.

The lone bright spot for the Tigers was their three-point game. Abbie Woginrich hit three of her six attempts from beyond the arc to lead the Tigers with 11 points. The Tigers hit six treys in the game.

Wasilla used the victory as a chance to get varsity experience for many of the bench players and only one Warrior did not score.

Colegrove finished with 10 points for the Warriors while Cottle put up 11.

Palmer High School senior Tim Rockey contributes to the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports and schools sections.

Wasilla 59, Newberg 30

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Wednesday, Wasilla High School

Newberg 9-4-8-9—30

Wasilla 13-15-17-14—59

Newberg (30): Bolek 0 0-1 0, Lee 0 1-2 1, Bromagem 2 0-3 5, O’Halloran 2 0-0 4, Sherrard 2 1-2 5, Albo 0 2-2 2, Woginrich 3 2-3 11, Green 1 0-4 2; Totals: 10- 6-16 30.

Wasilla (59): Ford 1 0-0 2, Hutchins 1 0-0 3, Apangolook 2 0-0 6, Imoe 5 0-0 11, Koso 1 0-0 2, Brown 1 0-0 3, Am. Hutchins 1 0-0 2, Colegrove 3 4-4 10, Dinkel 2 0-0 4, Cottle 4 3-4 11, Burke 1 0-0 2, Johannes 1 0-0 3; Totals: 23 7-8 59.

Three-point field goals: Newberg 4 (Woginrich 3); Wasilla 6 (Apangolook 4); Total fouls: Newberg 8, Wasilla 16.