Lady Warriors take down Lynx

April 1, 2005

JEREMIAH BARTZ/Frontiersman Sports Editor

ANCHORAGE - In a gritty defensive battle, sometimes it takes the performance of your post player at the perimeter to propel the team to victory.

Even though she faced stout competition in the paint, Wasilla senior post Megan Stearman made several key plays at the perimeter to lead the Warriors to a 43-32 win over the defending state champion Dimond Lynx in the first round of the 4A First National Bank Alaska Schools Activities Association state girls basketball tournament.

Dimond, sporting a starting lineup with a trio of 6-foot-1 forwards, made it beyond difficult for Wasilla to have success inside, especially in the first half. With the strength of the Lynx inside, the Warriors were forced to make plays outside - even the Warrior post players were forced to make plays from outside.

"Our philosophy is to go inside first and then go outside," Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said. "I think we got that reversed tonight."

With just a slim 12-7 lead early in the second quarter and Dimond clogging the middle, Stearman was given an amazingly open look, stepped back behind the arc and nailed a three-pointer. As the play took form, Hebert-Truax went from frightened to ecstatic in a matter of seconds.

"I was like 'oh my gosh, don't shoot Megan," Hebert-Truax said. "Then, 'nice shot, Megan.'"

Everyone in Warrior red was equal parts surprised and excited.

"That was her first three-pointer in like three years," Wasilla senior guard Jamie Brown said.

The Wasilla mentor saw the shot as a key point in the game. Rather than giving Dimond another opportunity in a tight game, Wasilla took an eight-point lead. The Stearman trey capped a seven-point run. Warrior sophomore Ayla Brown sparked her squad with a jumper to close the first quarter and a three pointer to open the second.

In addition to her heroics behind the arc, Stearman's defensive play at the perimeter also led to Warrior scoring opportunities.

"She's a quick post," said Brown, who shares captain duties with Stearman. "She can do a good job guarding the guards. They had size, but we don't have a slow girl on our team."

Stearman swiped six steals to add to her 10 points and 12 rebounds.

"She did get around and got her hands on some balls," Hebert-Truax said. "So did Anne Wesser."

Wesser, a sophomore post, scored nine points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out three assists and recorded five steals. She was named player of the game following the contest.

Wasilla allowed just 11 first half points, and Dimond shot just 13 percent in the first two quarters. The Lynx hit as me free throws in the game as field goals.

With the win, the Warriors move into the state semifinals for a date against Service in a match of conference champions. Wasilla is the reigning Northern Lights Conference champion, while Service recently won the Cook Inlet Conference crown. The Warriors are seeking their third trip to the 4A state title game in four years. Wasilla finished second in both the 2002 and 2003 tourneys.

In early action, top seed Chugiak defeated Colony 54-33 behind the play of center Sarah Neuschwander and forward Kelsey Griffen. Neuschwander scored 19 points and grabbed 11 boards, while Griffen registered 17 points and nine rebounds.

Kelcy Joynt hit several key shots for Colony and led the Knights with 14 points. Jamie Christiensen added seven points.

In other action, Juneau Douglas used a 15-7 first quarter run to down North Pole 54-38 and Service narrowly avoided upset, slipping past Homer 47-41.

Colony is slated to play North Pole at 8 this morning at the Sullivan

Arena.