Lapse proves costly for Wasilla boys

WASILLA — Games aren’t typically decided by two possessions. But East Anchorage capitalized on a pair of Wasilla mistakes, keying a pivotal eight-point run at the end of the third quarter that helped the Thunderbirds score a 55-47 come-from-behind win over the Warriors during the second day of the Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic at Wasilla High School Friday.

After trailing throughout the game, East picked up Warrior turnovers on back-to-back Wasilla possessions late in the third quarter. East, trailing by five points at the time, cashed in after both steals and quickly erased the Warrior advantage before taking a lead the T-Birds would never relinquish.

“Hopefully we learned from a couple of those possessions. Hopefully we learned from how we ended that third quarter,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said after the game.

The Warriors led 37-32 during the final minutes of the third. East picked up a loose ball at Wasilla’s end and Desmond Jackson went to the basket for the T-Birds to cut Wasilla’s lead to three. The T-Birds forced another turnover on Wasilla’s next possession and Carson Washburn hit a long three to tie the game at 37.

With a final opportunity before the end of the quarter for East to take its first lead of the game, Washburn hit another three at the buzzer to give the T-Birds the 40-37 advantage.

The eight-point run capped a 15-5 run for the T-Birds in the third.

“We couldn’t finish,” Engebretsen said.

Engebretsen was frustrated by the turnovers. The Warriors finished with 21 in the game.

“Too many costly turnovers. We were throwing the ball in the wrong direction,” Engebretsen said.

Ultimately, Engebretsen said Wasilla allowed East Anchorage to control the flow of the game.

“We need to do what we do, not let the other team dictate tempo,” Engebretsen said.

Engebretsen was happy with the fast start his team enjoyed against the defending state champs. Seniors Emillio Carney and Cash McGregor both had early buckets as Wasilla opened the game with a seven-point run and held a 10-1 lead midway through the first. Wasilla held East scoreless for the first three minutes and didn’t allow a field goal for the first five minutes of the game.

Wasilla dropped to 0-2 in the tournament with the loss. The Warriors faced Archbishop Spalding, a team from Maryland on Saturday. Due to the Frontiersman’s new afternoon press schedule, results were not available prior to press time.

Alex Baham led Wasilla with 16 points during the loss to the T-Birds. The junior hit a trio of three-pointers, including two that helped keep Wasilla alive in the fourth quarter. Cameron Brown added 11 points. McGregor pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.

East Anchorage 55, Wasilla 47

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Friday, Wasilla High School

East 11-14-15-15—55

Wasilla 18-14-5-10—47

East (55) — Johnson 5 4-5 14, Gomez 3 10-12 17, Bonner 1 0-0 2, Harrell 1 0-0 3, Keith 2 3-5 9, Washburn 3 0-0 8, Jacabo 1 0-0 2; Totals: 16 17-22 55.

Wasilla (47) — Lee 0 1-2 1, Brown 5 1-2 11, Carney 1 2-2 5, Krueger 1 2-2 4, Baham 5 3-4 16, Garnett 1 0-0 2, McGregor 2 0-0 4, Rank 1 0-0 2, Burn 1 0-0 2; Totals: 17 9-12 47.

3-point field goals: East 6 (Keith, Washburn 2), Wasilla 4 (Baham 3); Total fouls: East 10, Wasilla 18.