Valley squads face Lower 48 teams during 2nd day of Doc Larson tourney

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors girls’ basketball team faced a challenge on their home court in just their third game of the season. The 2016 and 2017 state champion Warriors lost to the Stephenson Jaguars, of Stone Hill, Georgia, 55-53 in overtime during the second day of the Doc Larson Roundball Classic, Friday at Wasilla High.

Facing injury of point guard Olivia Davies, Azlynn Brandenburg has taken over ballhandling duties for the Warriors. Brandenburg scored 10 points with seven assists and five rebounds, and was vital as the primary defender of the Jaguars point guard. Brandenburg had four steals.

The Warriors only played two girls who had varsity experience from last year, but the team looks like a textbook Jeannie Hebert-Truax squad. The Warriors full court press and trap defense led to 15 steals. Rarely did Wasilla hoist a contested shot, instead passing and moving to ball to find the open shooter. Maclaren Obremski led the Warriors with 12. Cheyenne Green added eight. Karlie Anderson also had four steals.

Kassidy Broussard led all scorers in Friday’s match with 12 points. Broussard stole the ball and made the layup to put the Jaguars up 14-2 in the first quarter. The Warriors were in unfamiliar territory.

“We were a little frazzled with a lot of different parts that we were trying to mesh together,” said Hebert-Truax. Without two of their varsity players and trailing by a large margin on their home court, the Warriors fought back. Wasilla outscored Stephenson 18-12 in the second quarter. Brandenburg made the free throw after an and-one to cut the lead to seven. Green was fouled and made a tough layup to cut the lead to four.

“I’m really proud of my kids. They keep having intensity and keep going at it. It’s not over until the fat lady sings,” said Hebert-Truax.

The Jaguars regained the momentum after halftime, leading 39-27 after the third quarter. Diondra Lawhead hit a baseline layup with 1:05 left in the game to give the Warriors their first lead. Stephenson was down to only five players in overtime. Brandenburg, Green, and Obremski fouled out, leaving the younger Warriors to fight for the win. Wasilla went down eight points early in the extra period, but fought back to within two points.

COLONY

Fans of Colony football may see a lot of familiar faces on the basketball court. Jon Pomrenke, Parker Kizer, and Jarrett Villastrigo starred on the gridiron this fall, and are now under Colony head coach Tom Berg’s instruction on the basketball court. The Knights advanced to the championship with a 48-38 win over the Enumclaw Hornets Friday night.

Enumclaw guard Kaden Anderson scored 20 of the Hornets 26 points in the first half, but only scored two in the second half. Colony’s defense did their best to slow Anderson down, making his catches tough and trying not to let him get any open looks at the basket. The Knight defense held the Hornets to just five points in the third quarter and 12 in the second half total. Sullivan Menard scored 18 points, went a perfect four of four from the three-point line, and grabbed 12 rebounds. Will Freeman chipped in 10 points and three assists.

“I think we’ve got a great mix of experience. Some of those football guys have been basketball guys through most of their middle school and high school careers. As seniors they provide the toughness and intangibles because they’ve been extremely successful in other arenas,” said Berg.

The Knights outrebounded the Hornets 36-23. The Knights held the Hornets to just 30 percent on their field goal attempts, and only 20 percent on their three point attempts.

While Menard led the Knights in scoring, Berg has confidence in all of his players, and says that on any given night, a different player could lead the team offensively.

“We have the potential to play 10 guys that we’re going to depend on. It’s going to be who’s open. I trust all those guys to do their job and do it well. With the mix of youth and leadership, by the time we get to March I think we’ve got a chance to be a tough out,” said Berg.

WASILLA

The Wasilla Warriors played their entire 11 -man roster in a season opener for the first time under head coach Ryan Engebretsen. The starters built a massive lead over Thunder Mountain on Thursday, leading 30-13 after the first quarter. Engebretsen pulled his starters after a short streak of basketball he described as good, not great.

“I want 32 minutes out of them and I felt like we gave 27, maybe 28. The other 4 or 5 weren’t bad, it’s just not the level that they can play at,” said Engebretsen.

Last year’s state runner up lost two key players, Isaac Houck and Kobe Brown, and a string of bench players. The new group is tasked with defending the Wasilla reputation, and they are off to a good start. Four players finished in double figures Thursday. Reilly Devine was one rebound away from a double double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Devine muscles the opposition out of the way for defensive rebounds, but is quick enough to stop on a dime and pop a jump shot from 15 feet that touches nothing but net.

“I was really happy with the entire first half as far as the energy. I love the energy that all of them brought,” said Engebretsen.

Daniel Headdings runs the point for the Warriors and can be effective on offense from inside or outside the three point arc. Headings was two of three from outside and also added a dunk in the first quarter. Levi Houck added 12 points. Aeron Milliron chipped in 11 points and six rebounds. Jordan Knight led the team with four assists and added two steals.

“I have never had a group where I got 11 dudes off the bench right away. What it comes down to is that I’ve got a load of confidence in all of them. They all bring energy and toughness, they were all guarding, all willing to do the right things. I have no problem going that deep because kids do the right things,” said Engebretsen.

When the starters came out in the second half, they moved the ball to find the open man. Engebretsen rewarded his players with nearly the entire fourth quarter on the bench, where they cheered on their younger teammates in competition. The Warriors dominated the Falcons on the glass, outrebounding Thunder Mountain 32 to 15.

In the nightcap of the second day of the tourney, Wasilla bested Stephenson High School of Stone Hill, Georgia, 64-50. Earlier in the day, Colony beat Enumclaw (Washington) 48-38. The Warriors host the Knights Saturday at 7 p.m. in the final.

Daniel Headdings finished 4 of 4 from behind the arc and supplied a game-high 17 points for the Warriors. Riley Devine recorded a double-double for the Warriors, collecting 14 points and a game-best 17 rebounds. Jordan Knight finished with 16 for Wasilla.

The Warriors jumped out to a 19-7 lead in the win, and added to its advantage with 20 fourth-quarter points.

Wasilla boys 64, Stephenson 50

Doc Larson Roundball Classic semifinals

Friday, Wasilla High School

Stephenson 7-10-17-16—50

Wasilla 19-15-10-20—64

Stephenson (50) — Evan 0 3-4 3, Latimer 5 4-4 14, No. 4 2 0-0 4, Fairchil 2 3-4 7, Coleman 0 3-4 3, Harris 3 0-0 6, Newsom 3 0-0 7, McKenzie 2 0-1 4; Totals: 17 13-17 50.

Wasilla (64) — Knight 5 4-5 16, Houck 2 0-1 4, Headdings 6 1-5 17, R. Devine 4 6-7 14, Dudley 1 0-0 2, Milliron 3 0-0 7, L. Devine 2 0-1 4; Totals: 23 11-19 64.

3-point field goals: Wasilla 7 (Headdings 4), Stephenson 3 (No. 4 2), Wasilla; Total fouls: Wasilla 18, Stephenson 20.

Colony boys 48, Enumclaw 38

Doc Larson Roundball Classic semifinals

Friday, Wasilla High School

Colony 14-13-10-11—48

Enumclaw 16-10-5-7—38

Enumclaw (38) — Anderson 8 4-9 22, Webb 1 0-0 3, B. Engebretsen 1 0-1 2, Krane 1 0-0 2, Erickson 2 0-0 5, Tandecki 1 0-0 3, Brown 0 1-2 1; Totals: 14 5-12 38.

Colony (48) — McMahon 2 0-0 4, Freeman 3 3-4 19, Menard 7 0-1 18, Spencer 2 2-2 7, Kizer 2 0-0 4, Villastrigo 0 1-2 1, Baker 2 0-0 4; Totals: 18 6-9 48.

3-point field goals: Enumclaw 5 (Anderson 2), Colony 6 (Menard 4); Total fouls: Enumclaw 14, Colony 17.

Stephenson girls 55, Wasilla 53

Doc Larson Roundball Classic

Friday, Wasilla High School

Stephenson 14-12-13-7-9—55

Wasilla 2-18-7-19-7—53

Stephenson (55) — Culbreath 5 0-2 12, Campbell 0 2-5 2, Colbert 1 1-2 3, Broussard 4 6-11 14, Walker 3 0-0 6, Coton 1 4-6 6, Tinch 3 2-2 8, Pratcher 2 0-0 4; Totals: 19 15-28 55.

Wasilla (53) — Brandenburg 2 5-7 10, Harmony 1 2-2 4, Vasquez 1 3-4 5, Obremski 5 0-0 11, K. Anderson 1 0-0 3, T. Anderson 1 1-1 3, Lawhead 3 3-5 9, C. Green 3 2-3 8; Totals: 17 16-26 53.

3-point field goals: Stephenson 2 (Culbreath 2), Wasilla 3 (3 tied with 3); Total fouls: Stephenson 23, Wasilla 24.