IN THE RAFTERS

FAIRBANKS — Jeannie Hebert-Truax is arguably the most decorated high school and college women’s basketball player in Alaska history. The longtime Wasilla High girls coach is a former state champion and high school player of the year. She’s a college hall-of-famer who’s called a “Legend” by the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Tuesday, Hebert-Truax was honored yet again when her high school jersey, No. 12, was retired by her alma matter, Monroe Catholic in Fairbanks.

“It’s kind of special,” Hebert-Truax said before making the trip to Fairbanks where her team is competing in Monroe’s Mount McKinley Bank Holiday Classic. “You don’t see that being done all over.”

Hebert-Truax’s No. 12 is the first jersey to be retired by Monroe, she said, a school where she was part of back-to-back championship teams in basketball. She also won state titles in volleyball and track while wearing the colors of the Rams.

The multi-sport talent started her high school career at nearby North Pole, helping lead the Patriots to state runner-up finishes as a freshman and sophomore before moving to Monroe.

She is a former Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year in girls basketball and Alaska High School Sports Person of the Year. She’s also a two-time region player of the year who scored more than 2,000 points during her high school career.

Hebert-Truax also made state history as a Monroe senior, becoming the first Alaska girl to earn the chance to play Division I basketball. In a past interview with the Frontiersman, Hebert-Truax said she chose the University of Miami in Florida because it was the only Division I program to offer her a college scholarship. And as it turned out, the Hurricanes struck gold in Interior Alaska.

As a point guard, Hebert-Truax led the Hurricanes to their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1989 and the Women’s National Invitational Tournament in 1990. She set the single-season assists record at Miami with a Big East-leading 221 as a senior.

Hebert-Truax, who still stands among career leaders in several statistical categories, was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2007, Hebert-Truax was named to the third ACC Legends Class.

Hebert-Truax is in her 16th season as head coach of the Wasilla girls basketball program. During her time with the team, she has led the Warriors to eight Northern Lights Conference titles, four appearances in the 4A state championship game and the 2007 state crown.

Wasilla girls,

Palmer boys win

FAIRBANKS — The Wasilla girls and Palmer boys earned wins during the second day of the Mount McKinley Bank Holiday Classic at Monroe Catholic in Fairbanks on Wednesday.

Wasilla improved to 6-0 and 2-0 in the tournament with a 65-19 win over Monroe. Junior Alyssa Hutchins hit four three-pointers and scored a game-high 26. Forwards Kyla Dinkel and Kalli Johannes combined to score 24 points.

On Tuesday, Wasilla cruised to a 61-33 win over the Skagway Panthers.

Hutchins led the Warriors with 12 points. Dinkel added 11 and Alexis Imoe had 10.

The Palmer boys rebounded from a first-day loss to host Monroe with a 63-57 victory over North Pole.

Christian Odom collected a team-high 15 points for the Moose and Sean Niekamp added 11.

On Tuesday, Monroe used a late effort to earn a 53-45 win over Palmer.

Niekamp posted 11 points and seven rebounds for Palmer.

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