It's all set

WASILLA — Kent Rilatos and the Wasilla Warriors walked into practice Monday afternoon not knowing who their opponent in the first round of the playoffs would be.

It could have been West Anchorage or maybe even East Anchorage. But until the controversy that involved Chugiak’s appeal of three forfeited victories could be resolved, the Warriors were in limbo.

But late Monday afternoon, word spread that Chugiak’s appeal was denied, leaving Wasilla High activities director Paul Cossette scrambling to schedule a playoff game.

Cossette confirmed Monday evening that the Warriors will host defending state champion West Anchorage, the Cook Inlet Conference’s No. 4 seed, Saturday at 2 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Field.

Before his team’s practice, Rilatos, Wasilla’s first-year head coach, was ready to show his team game film of both West and East.

“We’re going to study both games so we don’t waste a day of preparation,” Rilatos said.

Rilatos’ Warriors will actually have an extra day of practice thanks to the Saturday afternoon contest. Wasilla is one of two Valley games with a Saturday matinee game in the first round.

Palmer is scheduled to meet Service Saturday at noon at Dimond High School in Anchorage.

Service, the 2010 state runner-up, is the CIC’s top seed. Palmer is the Railbelt Conference’s No. 4 seed.

In other large schools first-round action, South Anchorage will host West Valley and East will make the trip to Juneau to play the Crimson Bears.

In the medium schools bracket, defending state champion Soldotna will host rival Kenai Central in the first round. Thunder Mountain, the top seed from the Southeast Conference, will play at Homer.

In the new small schools division, which only includes Greatland Conference teams, Monroe Catholic will be at top-seeded Barrow. Eielson travels to Nikiski to face the Bulldogs.

For a full preview of the Wasilla-West and Palmer-Service games, see the Friday edition of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.

Final poll released

Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network released its final poll of the season, and the top three teams in the large schools poll did not change.

CIC champion Service (7-0-1) remains first. Wasilla (5-2) stayed in second after its 23-22 come-from-behind win over rival Palmer in the Potato Bowl last Friday. Juneau (7-1) a big winner at Lathrop is still third.

West Valley (6-2) and South Anchorage (6-2) are tied at fourth in the final poll.

Chugiak also received votes.

Soldotna, the lone Alaska team with eight victories, is No. 1 in the medium and small schools poll. The Stars were ranked first in every poll this season.

Homer (7-1), Nikiski (7-1) and Barrow (7-1) are ranked second through fourth. Monroe (5-3) and Kenai (4-4) finished tied at fifth.

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