Service closes out Warriors in first round

ANCHORAGE — For the first 14 minutes of action, the Wasilla Warriors and Service Cougars were locked in arguably the best battle of the 4A boys quarterfinals.

And then the Cougars found another gear.

Service closed the first half on a 14-2 run and carried that momentum to a 71-50 win over the Wasilla Warriors during the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Basketball Championships at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on Thursday.

Adam Klie and Darren Muller each scored a team-high 13 points to help lead the Cougars into a semifinal date with West Anchorage. Wasilla slips back into the semifinals and will play rival Palmer today at 1:15 p.m.

Connor Devine led the Warriors with 18 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots.

The first 14 minutes of play featured nine lead changes and seven ties. After Service jumped out to a quick lead, the Warriors used a seven-point run to take a 9-7 lead. The Warriors attacked the basket, with seniors Cole Schierman and Wade Stahle slashing to the hoop for scores. Neither team led by more than a possession. Service used an Amu Aukusitino layup to take the 27-23 lead.

After a Devine rebound and put-back made it 27-25, Service scored the final dozen points of the half.

Wasilla was able to put together an 18-point third quarter, but the Cougars answered many of the Warriors’ big shots. Devine hit a long jumper at the tail end of the third to cut Wasilla’s deficit to single digits, but Service closed the game on a 19-7 run.

Service 71, Wasilla 50

4A state quarterfinals

Thursday, Sullivan Arena

Service 16-23-13-19—71

Wasilla 15-10-18-7—50

Service (71) – Kile 5 3-4 13, Tournay 2 0-0 4, Aukusitino 4 3-4 11, Brown 4 0-0 8, Robinson 5 1-1 12, Bartleson 4 0-0 10, Muller 4 2-2 13; Totals: 28 9-11 71.

Wasilla (50) – Schierman 2 1-1 5, Ferro 3 0-0 6, Kuiper 4 0-0 9, Stahle 4 2-4 10, Devine 7 4-6 18; Totals: 21 7-11 50.