Warriors cruise past Crimson Bears in state quarterfinals

ANCHORAGE — The Wasilla Warriors start five seniors — five seniors who are working toward their fourth straight trip to the state championship game, and an opportunity to win a third straight state title.

State quarterfinal games are nothing new for this group. But that doesn’t mean the message changes.

“Some of the things are the same, because that’s what got us here,” Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said after her top-seeded Warriors cruised to a 56-23 win over the Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears during the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Championships at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

Senior Kyla Dinkel, who was recently named the 4A girls state player of the year by the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches, posted 21 points and eight rebounds during the win. Senior Alexis Imoe added 14 points to help the Warriors move into the semifinal round, where they will face rival Colony Friday at 5:15 p.m. at the Sullivan.

Leading a team that features a senior group — which also includes Jenna Ford (six assists, two steals), Alysha Devine (nine points, four rebounds, four steals) and Savanna Burke (four points, nine rebounds, four blocks and three steals) — Hebert said she has a consistent, clear message for her team, which improved to 28-0 this season and 51-1 over the past two years.

“One of the things I focus on with this team is one game at a time, not being overconfident or cocky,” Hebert-Truax said. “The fact, they’re not automatically playing for a state title. Just watch the NCAA tournament. It’s one game and you could be done.”

Hebert-Truax said the “one-game-at-a-time message” has been preached throughout the year.

“All the work you put in throughout the year, this is what it’s built up to,” Hebert-Truax said. “You don’t want to take all that work and throw it out the window.”

Wasilla opened with a 10-point run, and held Juneau scoreless for the first three minutes of regulation. The Warriors took a 19-5 advantage into the second quarter and a 27-8 lead into halftime.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him @matsu_sports.

Wasilla 56, Juneau 23

4A girls quarterfinals

Thursday, Sullivan Arena

Juneau 5-3-8-7—23

Wasilla 19-8-13-16—56

Juneau (23) — Garcia 1 0-0 2, Kelly 1 1-2 3, Brakes 0 1-2 1, Fagerstrom 2 1-2 7, Gros 1 1-2 3, Fenumiai 3 1-2 7; Totals: 8 5-11 23.

Wasilla (56) — Ford 1 0-0 2, Imoe 5 0-0 14, Devine 4 0-0 9, Toews 2 0-0 4, Dinkel 10 1-1 21, Edwards 1 0-2 2, Burke 1 2-2 4; Totals: 24 3-5 56.

Three-point field goals: Juneau 2 (Fagerstrom 2), Wasilla 5 (Imoe 4); Total fouls: Juneau 8, Wasilla 14.