Warrior girls win, boys lose on first day of Classic

WASILLA — After graduating five senior starters from a team that led Wasilla to a third straight 4A state championship last year, there’s a whole new cast of talent for the Warriors.

But there were certainly moments Thursday when the new group of Warriors looked like the championship-caliber teams of the past.

“A little bit,” longtime Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said after Wasilla’s 50-28 win over Juneau-Douglas during the first day of the Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic at Wasilla High. “My philosophy here has always been defense and rebounding, to get after it.”

Wasilla forced 33 Juneau turnovers and held the Bears to 19 percent shooting during the lopsided win. Juneau was held to only eight field goals in the game, four in each half.

Juneau held a slim 10-8 after the first quarter, but senior Shayla Johnson sparked the Warriors with nine second-quarter points. Johnson hit a trio of three-pointers in the quarter, burying her first from behind the arc to give the Warriors the 16-15 lead. Another Johnson three pushed Wasilla’s advantage to 19-15, and Catherine Baham added a bucket to give the Warriors a six-point advantage.

“It really helped that Shayla stepped up and hit two threes in a row. That really kind of turned the game around,” Hebert-Truax said.

Johnson, a first-year Warrior and transfer from Nome High School, led the Warriors with a game-high 17 points.

“She’s shown some good things in practice,” Hebert-Truax said. “We know she can shoot the ball.”

Amanda Hutchins and McKenzie LaBuda added eight points each in the win. Hutchins, forward Cassidy Edwards and guard Machia Toews are the only returning players with varsity experience.

Edwards and freshman Catherine Baham each grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

The game marked the opening of the three-day weekend in the tournament. The Warriors host Galena today at 2 p.m. and Northern Lights Conference rival Soldotna on Saturday.

Hebert-Truax said Wasilla (1-1) is using the tournament as a way to prepare for the NLC schedule, which starts next week.

“I think it’s important to figure out where are team sits,” Hebert-Truax said. “The coaches have to figure out where our weaknesses are. That’s what we’re going to start working with.”

Powered by a 23-point third quarter, the Lathrop Malemutes scored a 68-44 win over the Wasilla boys in the late game Thursday. Shon Carter scored all six of his points in the third for Lathrop, which scored 43 in the second half.

Kyle Carlson led Lathrop with 15 points. Jordan Whiteside added 10. Terrell Ford chipped in nine points and 10 rebounds.

Alex Baham led Wasilla with 13 points.

Wasilla girls 50, Juneau 28

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Thursday, Wasilla High School

Juneau 10-8-4-6—28

Wasilla 8-17-16-9—50

Juneau (28) — Kelly 1 3-4 5, Rivera 0 2-6 2, Fogg 0 1-2 1, Roldan 0 3-4 3, Fagerstrom 7 0-2 16, Heinsdorf 0 1-2 1; Totals: 8 10-20 28.

Wasilla (50) — LaBuda 3 0-0 8, Johnson 6 2-2 17, Baham 3 0-0 6, Hutchins 3 2-2 8, Dinkel 3 0-2 7, Edwards 2 0-0 4; Totals: 20 4-8 50.

3-point field goals: Juneau 2 (Fagerstrom 2); Wasilla 6 (Johnson 3); Total fouls: Juneau 7, Wasilla 16.

Lathrop boys 68, Wasilla 44

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Thursday, Wasilla High

Lathrop 13-13-22-20—68

Wasilla 13-7-6-18—44

Lathrop (68) — Whiteside 4 0-0 10, White 0 2-2 2, Jennis 3 0-0 6, Carlson 7 0-0 15, Howard 0 1-2 1, Berner 3 2-2 9, Cannon 3 2-3 8, Carter 3 0-0 6, Jordan 0 2-2 2, Ford 4 1-1 9; Totals: 27 10-12 68.

Wasilla (44) — Lee 1 0-0 2, Brown 1 1-3 3, Carner 1 0-0 2, Baham 3 7-9 13, Garnett 1 3-5 5, McGregor 3 0-0 7, Houck 0 2-2 2, Rank 2 2-2 6, Burn 2 0-0 4; Totals: 14 15-21 44.

3-point field goals: Lathrop 4 (Whiteside 2), Wasilla 1 (McGregor), Total fouls: Lathrop 19, Wasilla 15