Pair of Warriors enjoy homecoming in win over Colony

PALMER — A pair of seniors had a big night in their old gym.

Wasilla senior Alyssa Hutchins scored a game-high 25 points and Warrior senior Pherrari Brumbaugh knocked down a key jumper late to help the Wasilla Warriors edge the Colony Knights 45-43 at Colony High on Tuesday.

Hutchins, who played two years at Colony before transferring to Wasilla, sparked the Warriors in the first half, scoring 21 of her 25 points during the first two quarters. The UAA recruit hit four three-pointers during her 14-point first.

Brumbaugh had only one field goal in the game, but it came at a pivotal time. The senior, a three-year player at Colony before moving to Wasilla, hit a jump shot from the edge of the free-throw line to give the Warriors a 44-43 lead with 2 minutes and 5 seconds remaining in the fourth.

Hutchins sparked the Warriors in the first, hitting the four three-pointers and scoring 14 points. Hutchins scored a dozen of Wasilla’s first 14 points in the game and supplied the bulk of the offense during a key 14-2 run.

Wasilla’s largest lead of the game was in the first, an 11-point advantage, but Colony started the second quarter with a 12-2 run.

Faith Farris went to the basket and tied the game at 24 with less than four minutes remaining in the first half.

Hutchins hit her fifth three-pointer in the game with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter to give Wasilla a 28-24 lead.

Hutchins followed with a steal on the defensive end, and went the length of the floor to the basket to give Wasilla the six-point lead at halftime.

Colony also started the third quarter with a run, and the Knights took a 33-32 lead with a pair of Mary Klapperich free throws.

Colony stretched its lead to as much as three late in the third, and held a 43-42 advantage after a Jennifer Solano layup with less than three minutes remaining.

Trailing 44-43, Colony had one final chance to win the game, driving hard to the basket.

The Knights missed the shot and Kyla Dinkel secured the rebound for Wasilla.

Wasilla girls beat Thunder Mountain 71-35 Thursday in Juneau. The Warriors play Juneau tonight in Juneau.

Wasilla 45, Colony 43

Tuesday, Colony High

Wasilla 20-10-6-9—45

Colony 12-12-13-6—43

Wasilla (45) — Ford 0 2-2 2, Hutchins 9 2-2 25, Brumbaugh 1 0-0 2, Devine 1 1-4 3, Dinkel 2 6-8 10, Burke 1 1-1 3; Totals: 14 12-17 45.

Colony (43) — Klapperich 3 4-8 11, Nelson 4 0-0-9, Solano 3 2-2 8, Farris 2 1-2 5, Tweed 2 0-0 5, Stefanski 2 1-2 5. Totals: 16 8-14 43.

Three-point field goals: Wasilla 5 (Hutchins 5), Colony 3 (Klapperich, Tweed, Nelson). Total fouls: Wasilla 15, Colony 16.