Saturday hoops:Warrior boys edge Kenai; Wasilla, Colony sweep Peninsula foes

WASILLA — Whatever they tried to do, the Wasilla Warriors simply couldn’t shake Kenai. Despite trailing throughout, the Kards hung around and nearly stung the Warriors.

Kenai’s Connor Felchle hit a three-pointer with 45 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 43. But Wasilla senior Reilly Devine knocked down a long baseline jumper to provide the go-ahead bucket and help the Warriors escape with a 47-43 win over the Kards Saturday afternoon at Wasilla High School.

“Many teams and many coaches would probably pull that last shot out, but the limited good looks we were getting in the second half gave me the intuition to take the first great look we get and trust the defense,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said after the win. “There is not a person in the gym that knows Reilly Devine and didn’t think that was going to go in.”

Devine hit three jumpers in the second half, each coming on the possession following a Kenai basket.

Following Devine’s go-ahead shot, fellow senior Aeron Milliron created a turnover near midcourt, chased down the loose ball and got to the buck to give the Warriors a four-point lead during the final seconds.

“Milliron made a huge aggressive play to seal the deal,” Engebretsen said.

Engebretsen also praised the work of seniors Caden Dudley and Jordan Knight.

“Dudley stepped up and made great plays on a few terrific passes and of course Jordan stepped up and had some great penetration into their gaps on the baseline to help us get the win,” Engebretsen said.

Wasilla, which led 19-14 at halftime, had only five total field goals in the first half. But the Warriors continued to attack the basket throughout, and finished 19 of 28 at the free throw line. Engebretsen said after struggling offensively, especially early, the Warriors made adjustments.

“The guys adjusted and tried to find as many opportunities either in the paint or at the charity stripe,” Engebretsen said.

After Luke Beiser tied the game at 2 during the first minute of the first quarter, Wasilla led until Felchle hit the three that tied the game at 43. The Warriors held the lead, but were never able to extend the advantage beyond three possessions. Kenai hit big shots, particularly in the second half. But Wasilla continued to have the answer.

Beiser scored eight of his team-high in the fourth. Felchle hit a trio of three-pointers in the second half. Preben Strende also had two big threes in the second half.

The win over Kenai capped a long week for the Warriors. The stretch included NLC victories over Palmer, Soldotna and Kenai, and a nonconference win over Ketchikan. Saturday marked Wasilla’s seventh game in 10 days.

“Overall, it was a good week, getting three conference wins and a quality win over a good Ketchikan ” Engebretsen said.

In girls’ action, Wasilla smothered Kenai 59-27. The Warriors forced 32 Kenai turnovers, and didn’t allow a Kardinals field goal until the 4:35 mark of the second quarter. Kenai was held to 9 of 28 shooting.

Olivia Davies scored all 18 of her points in the first half to help Wasilla build a 36-11 halftime lead. Azlynn Brandenburg also scored 18 for the Warriors in the win.

Brooke Satathite led Kenai with 10.

Knights net sweep over Stars

Will Freeman drained five three-pointers to help Colony grab a 60-47 boys’ basketball victory over visiting Soldotna Saturday at Colony High School. Freeman scored a game-high 23 points in the win.

Sullivan Menard also hit a pair of threes and added 19.

Sam McElroy led SoHi with 14. Jersey Truesdell added 10 for the Stars.

In girls’ action, Colony edged Soldotna 37-35.

Moose rebound at Barrow

The Palmer girls rebounded from a pair of losses and capped their weekend with a 58-50 victory over Juneau-Douglas during the final day of the Whaler Invitational at Barrow High School.

Julia Benshetler scored 11 of her game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter in the victory. Bekkah Alley hit a trio of three-pointers, and added nine points in the win.

Benshetler was named to an all-tournament team for the second consecutive weekend. Last week, Benshetler was named all-tourney following the Palmer Elks Showdown at Palmer High.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Wasilla boys 47, Kenai 43

Saturday, Wasilla High School

Kenai 5-9-10-19—43

Wasilla 9-10-9-19—47

Kenai (43) — R. Riddell 0 2-2 2, Felchle 3 0-0 3, Tuttle 1 0-0 2, Beiser 6 2-2 15, Goodman 1 1-2 3, Strende 4 1-2 12; Totals: 15 6-8 43.

Wasilla (47) — Knight 3 5-8 11, Houck 1 1-2 3, Headdings 1 4-6 6, R. Devine 3 2-2 8, Million 4 7-10 15, L. Devine 2 0-0 4; 14 19-28 47.

3-point field goals: Kenai 7 (Felchle 3, Strende 3), Wasilla 0; Team fouls: Kenai 18, Wasilla 9.

Wasilla girls 59, Kenai 27

Saturday, Wasilla High

Kenai 2-9-6-10—27

Wasilla 20-16-12-11—59

Kenai (27) — Maw 1 0-0 2, Hanson 1 1-2 3, Paxton 0 4-4 4, Carrasco 3 0-0 6, Satathite 3 4-8 10, Streiff 1 0-2 2; Totals: 9 9-16 27.

Wasilla (59) — Brandenburg 6 5-6 18, Davies 7 2-2 18, Vasquez 3 0-0 6, Hodges 1 0-0 2, Obremski 3 0-0 7, T. Anderson 0 1-2 1, Greeen 3 00 7, Horton 1 0-0 2, Cox 1 0-2 2, Titus 1 0-0 2; Totals: 26 8-16 65.

3-point field goals: Kenai 0, Wasilla 5 (Davies 2); Team fouls: Kenai 13, Wasilla 12.

Colony boys 60, Soldotna 47

Saturday, Colony High School

Colony 12-18-17-13—60

Soldotna 6-12-11-18—47

Soldotna (47) — Truesdell 3 2-5 10, Trammell 2 0-0 6, Spence 1 6-6- 9, Crowder 2 0-0 4, Tuisaula 2 0-0 4, McElroy 6 2-2 14; Totals: 16 10-13-47.

Colony (60) ¬— McMahon 2 1-1 5, Freeman 8 2-2 23, Menard 4 9-10 19, Spencer 1 3-4 5, Wright 0 2-2 2, Villastrigo 1 0-0 2, Hersrud 1 0-0 2, Baker 1 0-0 2; Totals: 18 17-20 60.

3-point field goals: Soldotna 5 (Truesdell, Trammell 2), Colony 7 (Freeman 5); Team fouls: Soldotna 18, Colony 13.

Palmer girls 58, Juneau-Douglas 50

Whaler Invitational

Saturday, Barrow High

Palmer 14-13-15-16—58

Juneau 14-10-16-10—50

Palmer (58) — Busbey 3 0-0 6, Uschmann 3 1-2 8, S. Benshetler 1 2-2 4, Bowman 4 2-2 10, Giese 0 0-2 0, J. Benshetler 9 3-4 21, Alley 3 0-2 9; Totals: 23 8-14 58.

Juneau (50) — Tuckwood 4 0-1 9, Polk 1 2-2 4, J. Pusich 3 2-4 8, Danich 2 3-4 7, C. Pusich 8 4-4 20, Hickok 1 0-0 2; Totals: 19 11-15 50.

3-point field goals: Palmer 4 (Alley 3), Juneau 0; Team fouls: Palmer 13, Juneau 14.