Warrior girls run past Homer

WASILLA -- A game of basketball can be likened to a marathon rather than a sprint. A steady and constant attack will normally beat a quick burst out of the gate.

The Homer Mariners got a quick burst to take an early lead against the Wasilla Warriors Friday, but the steady attack of the state's top- ranked girls' team overcame the early burst en route to a win.

The Mariners led the Warriors 18-16 after the first period. Chelsea Setterquist scored eight of her team-high 22 points in the first frame to help Homer gain the early lead.

Sarah Thompson notched her lone bucket of the game at a key point for Homer. Her basket tied the game at 14-14 with 3:20 left in the first quarter. Setterquist gave Homer a four-point lead with a rebound and put-back on the offensive glass. Homer took a six-point lead with a mid-range jumper with 1:56 left in the first period.

Erica Lund and Marsha Schirack hit shots for Wasilla to bring the Warriors within two points at the end of the first period.

Just 20 seconds into the second quarter, Chandice Cronk hit one of her three treys in the game to give Wasilla a 19-18 lead. Schirack hit a layup just 12 seconds later to stretch the Warrior lead to three points. This is a lead Wasilla would not relinquish.

Wasilla outscored Homer 29-12 in the second quarter to give the Warriors 45-30 lead at the half.

"It definitely took us a while to get started," Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said. "They were patient against the press and their shooting percentage was good in the first half.

Cronk and Schirack, the Warrior co-captains, combined for 22 points in the second to help Wasilla gain momentum during the run.

Wasilla had an 8-3 run early in the period and capped off the half with a 12-2 run.

The Warriors opened up the second half with another large run. Wasilla outscored Homer 20-7 in the third quarter.

"We can run and gun with them for about a quarter and a half," Homer head coach Mark Mahan said. "We just don't have the bodies. We just don't have the legs."

According to Mahan, Homer has just 20 players in the girls' program. Homer went just four players deep on its bench in the contest with Wasilla. Mahan said he has also lost players to injury and sickness recently.

The Warriors continued to baffle opponents with their depth and their stamina.

"They were able to keep up with us for a bit, but our kids did not stop," Truax said. "We're a running team."

The Warriors are preparing for their run against the second-ranked Soldotna Stars. The Warriors travel to Soldotna to clash with their region rivals March 1. Soldotna is still undefeated.

Wasilla 82 Skyview 48

Wasilla got out to a 48-22 halftime lead in an 82-48 win at Wasilla High Saturday.

The Warriors leapt out to a 26-9 lead in the first quarter.

Schirack scored a game-high 24 points in the contest. Cronk added 22 points, including six three pointers.