VETERAN SAVVY

ANCHORAGE — After graduating eight seniors from their 2008-09 state runner-up squad, the Colony Knights brought a whole new crop of talent to the 4A championships. But many of the Wasilla Warriors had been to the big dance before.

And on Monday night, experience counted.

Sparked by seniors Skyler Nuss and Carlee Naczi, Wasilla used a 19-point fourth quarter to score a 38-30 win over the Knights during the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Basketball Championships at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on Monday.

“We talked about that before the game,” Nuss said of the experience of the Warriors, who placed third in the state tournament last season. “We’ve been here before and this is our chance. Let’s work as a team, play together and be positive.”

Wasilla trailed 20-19 going into the fourth quarter, but used a quick six-point run to take the lead — six points generated by those two Wasilla seniors. Nuss went to the basket for the lay-up to open the quarter and give the Warriors the 21-20 lead. Naczi followed by going the length of the court to the hoop for another score. Soon after, Nuss pulled down a rebound off a Kelsey Cottle block on the defensive end and went to the basket for yet another score.

That play gave the Warriors the 25-20 advantage and a lead they would not relinquish.

“I’m actually kind of surprised it happened,” Nuss said of the coast-to-coast plays. “(We) kind of went with the flow of the moment.”

The early fourth-quarter scores sparked Wasilla’s 19-point effort in the final frame and helped the Warriors score as many points in the fourth as they did during the first three quarters. Nuss said a little motivation from Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax was a factor.

“Hebert was ticked off,” Nuss said. “During a timeout, she asked if we wanted to play. We said ‘ya,’ then she said, ‘go out and play.’”

Wasilla stretched its lead to as many as seven midway through the fourth and didn’t let the Knights cut the lead to less than three during the final five minutes.

“We were able to get some easy lay-ups and stops at the other end,” Hebert-Truax said.

Colony freshman Mary Klapperich hit a three-pointer with 2:29 left to bring the Knights within three points, but Wasilla freshman Alexis Imoe quickly stretched the advantage back to five when she found and open lane and drove to the basket.

Colony was able to contain Cottle, Wasilla’s 6-foot-5 first-team all-state post, for much of the game. Cottle was held to just 2-of-5 shooting and seven points in the contest. Colony allowed only one Cottle attempt through the first quarter. Nuss said the Warriors were more concerned about missed opportunities rather than the inability to get their top post the ball.

“I don’t think we were really frustrated,” Nuss said. “I think we were more frustrated about the turnovers.”

Wasilla had 24 turnovers in the game, and the two teams combined for 43 in the defensive battle. The bulk of those Wasilla turnovers came through the first three periods.

“We’d get a steal, then we’d turn it over,” Nuss said. “We’d get another steal, and we’d turn it over.”

Colony took the lead early 10-6 and carried a 15-14 advantage into the half. Wasilla’s only points during the first eight minutes came courtesy of a pair of Naczi three-pointers. But Colony had long-range shots of its own.

Junior Tess Forstner opened the game with a three-pointer, and sophomore Alyssa Hutchins added a three late in the first to give Colony the 8-0 lead. But Colony was unable to generate much offense late in the game both from the field and the free-throw line. The Knights shot 21 percent from the floor and were 8-of-23 from the free-throw line.

“You’re not going to win shooting like that,” Colony head coach Tom Lincoln said.

Wasilla will move on to the semifinals and play for a chance to compete in its fourth state title game since 2002. Colony is backed into the consolation semifinals and will work toward a potential fourth-place finish. Lincoln hopes this experience will help his squad, which will graduate only two seniors.

“The reality is, they will see the difference of being on an experienced team next year,” Lincoln said.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com. Freelance reporter Matt Tunseth contributed to this story.

Wasilla 38, Colony 30

4A girls’ quarterfinals

Monday, Sullivan Arena

Colony 10-5-5-10—30

Wasilla 6-8-5-19—38

Colony (30) – M. Klapperich 3 2-2 9, Hutchins 2 4-7 10, K. Klapperich 2 0-0 4, Leigh 1 0-0 2, Forstner 1 2-13 5; Totals: 9 8-23 30. Wasilla (38) – Imoe 3 3-5 9, Nuss 2 0-2 4, Naczi 3 1-2 9, Colegrove 4 1-3 9, Cottle 2 3-8 7; Totals 14 8-20 38.

3-point field goals: Colony 4 (Hutchins 2), Wasilla 2 (Naczi 2); Rebounding: Colony 32 (Forstner 6), Wasilla 40 (Colegrove 14); Assists: Colony 5 (K. Klapperich 2); Wasilla 7 (Imoe, Nuss, Naczi 2); Total fouls: Colony 20, Wasilla 21; Fouled out: Colony- Forstner, Wasilla- Naczi, Nuss.