Knights second, Warriors third in Alaska Prep Shootout

ANCHORAGE — The host Dimond Lynx used a big third quarter to pull away from Colony for a 63-45 win in the championship game of the Alaska Prep Shootout Saturday night in Anchorage.

The Knights led for much of an up-tempo first half until three lay-ups by Dimond’s Chris Plooy and a three-pointer by Rylan Whilden allowed the Lynx to end the half on a 9-2 run and take a 29-22 lead into the locker room. Plooy was red-hot in the first half, scoring 15 points to lead all scorers. Grant Niver kept the game close early on, scoring 10 of his team-high 12 points in the first to lead the Knights.

But Dimond stayed hot in the second half, stretching its lead to 15 points on back-to-back three-pointers by Colton Lauwers to end a 20-point third quarter by the Lynx.

The Lynx didn’t let up in the fourth, easily holding off the Knights to earn the tournament championship for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Lynx beat eventual state champion Wasilla with a buzzer-beater in the final.

Dimond 63, Colony 45

Alaska Prep Shootout

Saturday, Dimond High School

Colony 10-12-12-11—45

Dimond 7-22-20-14—63

Colony (45) — Huggins 2 0-0 4, J. Murphy 3 0-0 6, Palmer 1 0-0 2, Niver 4 2-2 12, Gray 3 2-2 9, C. Murphy 1 2-2 4, Moseley 3 0-0 6; Totals: 18 6-8 45.

Dimond (63) — Thompson 2 1-5 6, Langanson 1 1-2 1, Raquel 0 1-2 1, Hanley 8 3-4 19, Whilden 8 3-5 19, Lauwers 2 2-2 8; Totals: 24 4-12 63.

Three-point field goals: Colony 3 (Niver 2), Dimond 4 (Lauwers 2); Rebounding: Colony 35 (Scott, Gray, Moseley 5), Dimond 38 (Lauwers 8).

Wasilla 48, Soldotna 38

ANCHORAGE — In the tournament’s third/fourth place game, Wasilla rebounded from a Friday night loss to Colony with a 48-38 win over Northern Lights Conference rival Soldotna.

Senior guard Tyler Johannes and junior guard Adrese LaVern led the Warriors with 13 points each, senior forward Shane Green had seven points and five rebounds while senior guard/forward Dexter Pearce and junior guard Tillerman Kroon each had six.

Wasilla, the defending NLC and Alaska Class 4A champions, exploded for 18 points in the third quarter after taking a 15-12 lead during a sluggish first half. The Warriors won the game despite shooting just 33 percent from the floor, including a 2-for-13 night by LaVern.

But SoHi was worse offensively, shooting just 26 percent. LaVern did make eight of 10 free throws in the game, while Johannes hit all three of his three-point tries.

Ryan Shelton, Brad Blossom and Larsen Kohler each had seven points to lead the Stars.

In other tournament action Saturday, Kodiak beat Eagle River 66-58 for fifth place, while Mount Edgecumbe beat Grace Christian 55-40 for seventh.

Wasilla 48, Soldotna 38

Alaska Prep Shootout

Saturday, Dimond High School

Wasilla 11-4-18-15—48

Soldotna 8-5-9-16—38

Wasilla (48) — Gray 0 2-2 2, Kroon 3 0-0 6, LaVern 2 8-10 13, Pearce 2 2-2 6, Johannes 5 0-0 13, Quenega 0 1-2 1, Green 3 1-2 7; Totals: 15 4-11 48.

Soldotna (38) — Carver 2 1-2 5, Blossom 3 1-2 7, Grubb 0 2-2 2, Aberkane 2 0-0 4, Gellar 0 3-6 0, Barkman 2 0-0 4, Kohler 2 1-2 7, Griglione 1 0-0 2, Shelton 2 0-0 7; Totals: 14 8-14 38.

Three-point field goals: Wasilla 4 (Johannes 3, LaVern), Soldotna 2 (Kohler 2); Rebounds Wasilla 36 (Green 5), Soldotna 37 (Shelton 7). Total fouls: Wasilla 15, Soldotna 18. Fouled out: Johannes, Bauder.

All tournament team: Caleb McGraw, Mt. Edgecumbe; Ryan Hanley, Dimond; Adrese LaVern, Wasilla; Michael Hall, Eagle River; Colton Lauwers, Dimond; Michael Odell, Kodiak; Jaron Murphy, Colony; John Palmer, Colony; Shane Green, Wasilla. MVP: Chris Plooy, Dimond