Warriors cruise to win over Kardinals

WASILLA — It didn’t take long for Wasilla to find itself in complete control Saturday afternoon. And then the Warriors popped it into cruise control.

Sparked by a 21-1 first-quarter run, Wasilla coasted to a 78-49 win over the Kenai Central Kardinals at Wasilla High School on Saturday.

“It was a great start,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said.

The Warriors, who improved to 8-0 in Northern Lights Conference play with the win, allowed only a Tyler Spalding free throw during the first eight minutes. That came with 5:39 left in the first. Following that single Kenai point, Wasilla capped the period on a 17-0 run.

Engebretsen gave credit to the defensive intensity of his squad.

“We didn’t give up any great looks,” Engebretsen said. “Our guards were terrific. They kept it in front and when (Kenai) did get by, our bigs were able to help out.”

Senior Cody Pfeifer posted six of his 12 points in that first quarter. Sophomore Connor Devine scored 13 of his game-high 15 in the first half.

Sophomore AJ Hull led the Kards with 10 points. Hull provided Kenai with its first field goal of the game when the guard slashed to the basket 50 seconds into the second quarter.

Colton Hayes added nine points for the Kardinals. Bo Reilly and Lincoln Wensley combined for 14 points during a 25-point fourth quarter for the Kardinals. Kenai managed to score more points in the fourth that it did during the first three quarters combined.

“It’s hard to maintain that intensity when you have a comfortable lead,” said Engebretsen, who watched his team go up by more than 30 points during the second half.

All 12 players on the Wasilla bench saw action in the contest and 11 of those players scored.

Lathon Breshears scored all eight of his points during the second half. Chris Bydlon, another reserve who saw significant action, added four points during the victory.

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

Wasilla 78, Kenai 49

Saturday, Wasilla High School

Kenai 1-11-12-25—49

Wasilla 21-21-16-20—78

Kenai (49) — Hull 3 4-6 10, Kiefer 3 0-0 7, Spalding 0 4-6 4, Risung 1 0-0 3, Reilly 2 4-5 8, Rouswell 0 0-1 0, Hayes 4 0-0 9, Wensley 2 0-0 6, Rogers 1 0-0 2; Totals: 16 12-18 49.

Wasilla (78) — Schierman 1 0-0 2, Quenga 0 3-4 3, Mock 1 1-2 3, Kuiper 3 4-5 10, Stahle 4 0-1 11, Bydlon 2 0-0 4, Pfiefer 4 4-4 12, Breshears 4 0-0 8, Devine 5 4-5 15, Ford 2 0-0 4, Green 3 0-2 6; Totals: 29 16-23 78.

3-point field goals: Kenai 5 (Wensley 2), Wasilla 4 (Stahle 3); Total fouls: Kenai 21, Wasilla 18.