Inside-outside duo pace Wasilla on 4A girls' first team

As they marched to the state finals, Wasilla teammates Chandice Cronk and Marsha Schirack were the one-two punch of the Wasilla Warriors.

Voters in the all-state selection process took notice, and both Warriors were named to the first team as a result.

Cronk, who made a serious run for the Player of the Year award, is a junior who will return next year. Her outside shooting was the best in the state, and often, her sweet jumper carried the Warriors. Schirack, on the other hand, is a senior and will play for the University of Alaska Fairbanks next season.

The Cronk-Schirack combination proved to be the recipe for success for the Warriors. Double-team Cronk and Schirack would make you pay inside. Play a zone defense to take away Schirack, and Cronk would simply shoot over it, pouring in the three-pointers.

The player of the year award went to Ashley Mickens of East. The coach of the year award went to Chugiak's Jon Schroeder, who led the Mustangs to an upset of Wasilla in the final game at the state tournament.

On the second team was Colony's Kristina Klapperich, who led the Knights into the state tournament almost single-handedly. Only a junior, Klapperich will bring her talent back to the Knights again next season.

The Valley was well represented on the honorable mention list as well. Emily Bolling and Keisha Hooker of Palmer, as well as Trista White of Wasilla, garnered honorable mention honors.

Player of the year -- Ashley Mickens, senior, East.

Coach of the year -- Jon Schroeder, Chugiak.

First team -- Ashley Mickens, senior, East; Chandice Cronk, junior, Wasilla; Erica Putnam, senior, Chugiak; Marsha Schirack, senior, Wasilla.

Second team -- Kari Reabold, junior, Lathrop; Elyse Hartman, junior, Chugiak; Jennifer Senette, senior, Soldotna; Kristina Klapperich, junior, Colony; Danielle Larson, senior, Juneau.

Honorable mention -- Alesha Alley-Brown, East; Sharde Burkhead, North Pole; Emily Bolling, Palmer; Letricia Costello, Bartlett; Kendri Cesar, Juneau; Alana Clooten, lathrop; Anne Elliott, Ketchikan; Keisha Hooker, Palmer; Latasha McKoy, Juneau; Amy Neussl, Juneau; Trista White, Wasilla; Annie Withrow, Kodiak; Sidney Wyman, Sitka; ZeeZee Young, Dimond; Hillary Zobeck, Soldotna.