Warrior girls struggle

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors were playing in their first game of the season.

The Warriors were playing in their first game in four years without all-everything guard Jenna Johnson, who graduated and took her game to the Division I level.

And the Warriors took the court with as many seniors as freshmen.

But following a 40-24 loss to the West Valley Wolfpack, Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax wasn’t ready to make excuses.

“We can give all the excuses we want, but it’s a matter of coming into the game and being intense and ready to go,” the longtime Warrior mentor said. “I thought we were outhustled. We couldn’t get back on defense in transition, and we’ve got to hit some shots.”

West Valley used intense defensive pressure on the perimeter and in the post to hold Wasilla to single digits in scoring in each quarter and just 8-of-44 shooting from the floor.

“A lot of those were wide-open shots, some layups,” Hebert-Truax said. “We’ve just got to make those little things.”

West Valley was able to build a double-digit lead and maintain that advantage for large chunks of time, but the Wolfpack had their offensive issues as well.

Wasilla held West Valley to eight points in the first and nine in the third. West Valley captain Jasmine Yarde was the lone player in the game to reach double digits, scoring 13 in the win.

Freshman Hannah Mattson scored eight for West Valley.

Junior Celeste Colegrove scored a team-high seven for Wasilla. Junior Katie Bialka hit a three-pointer in the fourth quarter and added five points for Wasilla.

The game was part of the first day of the inaugural Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic. The tourney named for Wasilla’s longtime trainer, “Doc” Dan Larson, continues today and runs through Wednesday.

Today, the Warriors face Ketchikan at 6:30 p.m. Ketchikan beat defending 4A state champion Chugiak 38-18 earlier Monday.

On Wednesday, Wasilla hosts the Mustangs at 3:30 p.m.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

West Valley 40, Wasilla 24

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Monday, Wasilla High School

West Valley 8-13-9-10—40

Wasilla 5-6-5-8—24

West Valley (40) — Mackey 0 2-2 2, Veazey 2 2-2 6, Mattson 2 4-6 8, Yarde 5 2-6 13, Barton 2 3-4 7, Hinzman 2 0-2 4; Totals: 13 13-22 40.

Wasilla (24) — Apangolook 1 0-0 2, Imoe 0 2-4 2, Dinkel 0 2-2 2, Nuss 2 0-2 4, Bialka 2 0-0 5, Colegrove 2 3-4 7, Troisi 1 0-2 0; Totals: 8 7-14 24.

3-point field goals: West Valley 1 (Yarde 1), Wasilla 1 (Bialka 1); Total fouls: West Valley 15, Wasilla 16; Fouled out: West Valley- Mackey.