State hoops: Warrior girls notch wild win

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

ANCHORAGE - The Wasilla Warriors may not be loaded with senior talent. But one senior made sure the Warriors would be playing for a spot in the state title game.

Ashley Semler, one of two seniors on the squad, scored six of her game-high 18 points in the final 50 seconds to lead the Warriors to a 39-36 win over East Anchorage in the first round of the Alaska Schools Activities Association 4A state tournament at the Sullivan Arena on Thursday.

With Wasilla trailing by a point with 50 seconds left Semler hit a huge three-pointer to give the Warriors a two-point advantage.

&#8220It felt like a huge adrenaline rush when it happened,” Semler said.

On the very next possession, before the cheering Wasilla fans were even able to sit back down, Semler stole the ball from East guard Ariel Tweto and went the length of the floor for the lay-up.

&#8220As soon as I saw her turn her back, I thought I've got to go and take it to help us get the lead,” Semler said. &#8220We were just giving everything. We really want it this year.”

Semler's heroics turned a one-point deficit into a two-possession advantage for Wasilla. Earlier in the half, Semler hit another pivotal three-pointer to curb an East comeback attempt.

&#8220She did a great job. We called a time-out, diagrammed a three-point play for her and she drilled it,” Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax. &#8220That's just someone who wants the basketball.”

Semler was 3-of-5 from behind the arc in the game.

After East's Margaret Dunn hit a pair of free throws with 20 seconds remaining to cut the Warrior advantage to two points, Semler had another clutch moment, hitting a free throw to seal the win. But in order to hit that free throw, Semler needed a little help from junior Anne Wesser. Semler was at the line just seconds earlier, but missed her opportunity. After the attempt banked off the front of the rim, Wesser leapt forward and grabbed the rebound. Wesser swung the ball back to Semler, who was immediately fouled. Wesser had probably the worst offensive night of her season, finishing 0-of-13 from the field, but the rebound was arguably a game-saver.

&#8220I told her, you had a bad game, you didn't score. But you had the biggest rebound of the game,” Hebert-Truax said.

In the first state tournament game of her career, freshman point guard Jenna Johnson recorded 12 points, 13 rebounds and three steals. She hit five of her 11 shots, and virtually dominated the East backcourt.

&#8220She just has no fear,” Hebert-Truax said. &#8220She just goes out there and plays.”

The win sets up a semifinal date with North Pole today at 5:10 p.m. at the Sullivan. Wasilla beat North Pole earlier this season.

In the other semifinal Dimond will face top-ranked Juneau-Douglas. Dimond earned a spot in the second round with a 50-46 win over Colony, while Juneau-Douglas topped Homer 56-36.

The Knights face Homer in the consolation semifinals. The winner of that contest moves into Saturday's fourth-place game.

Wasilla 39, East 36

Thursday, Sullivan Arena

Wasilla (39): Wesser 0 0-2 0, Semler 7 1-3 18, Putnam 3 1-2 7, Fulton 1 0-0 2, Brown 0 0-0 0, Johnson 5 2-4 12, Totals 16 4-13 39.

East (36): Kreikamp 2 0-0 4, Dunn 1 2-2 4, Logo 1 0-0 2, Leremia 1 0-0 0, Pi 1 1-2 3, Tweto 3 1-1 9, Gaddy 5 2-3 12, Totals 14 7-9 36.

Three-point field goals: Wasilla- Semler 3, East- Tweto; Fouled out: none; Rebounds- Wasilla 28 (Johnson 13), East 39 (Gaddy 15)