Hoop deja vu

PALMER -- The Wasilla girls' basketball squad may have had a small case of deja vu on Thursday. The Warriors found themselves starting the 2003-04 season, just as they ended the 2002-03 season -- against the Chugiak Mustangs.

And unfortunately for the Warriors, this season started the way the last ended, with a loss to Chugiak.

Elyse Hartman scored 18 points to lead the defending state champion Mustangs past Wasilla 58-47. The rematch of the 4A girls' title game was the opening contest of the 2003 Palmer Elks Showdown at Palmer High School.

"Chugiak is one of the best teams in the state, those are the teams you want to play," Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said.

Although Chugiak was without since-graduated star Erica Putnam who poured in 21 points in the Mustangs 57-42 victory over Wasilla in the state championship game, there was at least one similarity between Wasilla's final game of last season and 2003-04 opener.

Chandice Cronk was the lone Warrior to hit double digits with 18 points from the floor, nine from behind the arc.

Hartman was one of three Mustangs to score in double figures. The versatility of Hartman was aided by the inside presence of post players Kelsey Griffen and Sarah Neuschwander.

Size inside proved to be a big difference between the two programs.

"Chugiak is one of the taller teams in the state," Hebert-Truax said.

Griffen, who stands at 6-feet, 1-inch, scored 15 points and the 6-0 Neuschwander added 11.

Wasilla's biggest struggle came holding onto the basketball, as the Warriors turned over the rock 27 times.

"They were turning turnovers into points," Hebert-Truax said. "You are not going to win against any team playing like that."

Palmer girls win

The Palmer Moose opened their season with a 56-41 win over the West Valley Wolfpack in the opening round of the 2003 Palmer Elks Showdown on Thursday.

Seniors Emily Bolling and Keisha Hooker combined for 35 points in the conference. Bolling hit 10 shots from the floor and scored 21. Hooker added 14 points.

Casey Miller scored 14 to lead the Wolfpack.

Ratcliffe leads Moose

Stanley Ratcliffe scored 33 points to lead the Moose past West Valley 79-74 in the first day of action of the 2003 Palmer Elks Showdown at Palmer High School Thursday.

Ratcliffe started his senior season off on the right note scoring 12 in the first quarter and 24 in the first half.

Center Kurtis Devon added 17 points in the paint and Brandon Baines scored 12 points for Palmer.

Ronnie Moody led the Wolfpack with 25 points.

Warrior boys fall

The Wasilla Warriors fell to East 57-44 in the first round of the Service High Tip-Off on Thursday.

Matt Crane scored a game-high 18 points for Wasilla.

Luke Schafer added nine.