Prep hoops: Warriors beat Bartlett at buzzer

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

WASILLA - Last week in the third-place game of the Alaska Prep Shootout at Dimond High School, the Wasilla boys' basketball squad saw a large lead erased by Bartlett.

On Tuesday, as the Warriors hosted the Golden Bears at WHS, Wasilla once again jumped out to a significant lead against the Cook Inlet Conference hoops power. The lead may have dwindled. But it didn't disappear.

Senior forward Ian Johannes hit a buzzer-beating lay-up to give the Warriors a 54-52 win over Bartlett.

&#8220It was a little bit of redemption,” Wasilla head coach Jason Marvel said. &#8220It's a good morale booster for the boys.”

With the score tied at 52-52, Bartlett was holding the ball for one last shot.

&#8220They spread us out, and they just were going to penetrate and kick out for the shot,” Marvel said.

But Bartlett didn't get its shot.

Wasilla senior guard Brad Hobbs nabbed the ball in the Warrior defensive zone, and went the length of the court in the other direction. As he drove the ball into the paint, Hobbs dished it off to Johannes, who converted the wide-open layup.

In the Shootout, Wasilla had a 25-8 lead before the Bartlett comeback. In the second meeting, Wasilla led 16-4 after the first quarter, and 20-10 at one point in the second.

Wasilla was even down by 10 points late in the half, but managed to fight its way back.

Wasilla and Bartlett have created quite the basketball rivalry, despite being in different conferences. Last season Wasilla upset the Bears in the first round of the 4A state tournament. In 2003, Bartlett edged Wasilla for the state title.

Wasilla (3-5) travels to Homer today to face the Mariners. The Warriors play Skyview on Saturday.

Wasilla girls 70, Bartlett 38

Wasilla cruised to a 70-38 win over Bartlett at Wasilla High School on

Tuesday.

Ten different players scored for the Warriors in the win. Junior Anne Wesser led all players with 16 points. Freshman Jenna Johnson added 11 points, while Jessica Carter and Sam Parsons chipped in 10 points.

The Warriors led 17-8 after the first quarter, and 38-15 at the half.

Wasilla (5-1) travels to the Kenai Peninsula this weekend to face Homer on Friday and Skyview on Saturday.