Warriors kennel Malemutes

WASILLA — Some nights the shots are simply not going to fall. Wasilla had one of those nights Thursday.

Despite their struggles on the offensive end, the Wasilla boys used a rabid defensive effort during the final two quarters to secure a 47-39 nonconference win over the Lathrop Malemutes at Wasilla High.

“We didn’t really execute, our timing was off on the offensive end,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said. “I wasn’t pleased with their defensive effort in the first half, but we got after it in the second half. We did what we expected them to do.”

Wasilla allowed only 13 second-half points and closed the game on a 12-2 run to grab a win in the game that marks its first of three home dates against Interior opponents. The Warriors host West Valley tonight and North Pole Saturday afternoon.

Engebretsen the key to the win was staying solid at the defensive end.

“We had to buckle down defensively,” Engebretsen said. “It was one of those nights. When they’re not falling for you, you’ve got to make sure you’re taking care of business defensively.”

Tyler Hamilton, who led Lathrop with 15 points, gave the Malemutes a 26-25 lead when he hit a long fade-away baseline jumper during the final seconds of the first half. Hamilton gave his team the lead again hitting a three-pointer with 6:29 left in regulation. Hamilton’s three gave Lathrop the 37-35 lead, but that was the Malemutes final score until the final seconds of the game.

Sophomores Connor Devine and Braydon Kuiper were a combined 7 for 8 from the free-throw line during that final Warrior run. Senior Cole Schierman scored all three of his points during that stretch, and senior Wade Stahle also had a key bucket in the run.

“We kept battling through,” Engebretsen said.

Devine and Stahle each scored a game-high 15. Kuiper added 12. Stahle hit a trio of three-pointers during the first half.

While the Wasilla boys were tested, the Wasilla girls breezed to a 66-20 win over Lathrop.

Junior Alyssa Hutchins scored 11 of her game-high 15 points during Wasilla’s 24-4 second-quarter run. Senior Kelsey Cottle also contributed a game-best 15.

Kyla Dinkel added seven.

Cottle scored seven in the first quarter to help Wasilla grab an 18-7 lead, and the Warriors led 42-10 at the half.

Lathrop finished with only six field goals. Eight of the Malemutes’ 20 points came at the free-throw line.

Wasilla boys 47, Lathrop 39

Thursday, Wasilla High

Lathrop 11-15-6-7—39

Wasilla 13-12-10-10—47

Lathrop (39) — Carlson 3 3-4 11, Silva 1 0-0 2, Streeter 3 1-2 7, Graham-Taylor 1 0-0 2, Green 1 0-0 2, Hamilton 6 1-2 15; Totals: 15 -8 39.

Wasilla (47) — Schierman 1 1-2 3, Kuiper 4 3-4 12, Stahle 5 2-2 15, Anderson 1 0-0 2, Devine 4 7-8 15; Totals: 15 13-17 47.

Three-point field goals: Lathrop 4 (Carlson, Hamilton 2), Wasilla 4 (Stahle 3); Total fouls: Lathrop 16, Wasilla 9.

Wasilla girls 66, Lathrop 20

Thursday, Wasilla High

Lathrop 6-4-7-3—20

Wasilla 18-24-13-11—66

Lathrop (20) — Angell 1 0-0 2, Luke 1 0-0 2, Allen 3 0-0 6, Lizotie 0 1-2 1, Taylor 1 7-10 9; Totals: 6 8-12 20.

Wasilla (66) — Al. Hutchins 6 1-1 1, Apangolook 2 0-0 5, Imoe 1 4-6 6, Devine 3 0-0 6, Brown 1 2-3 4, Colegrove 2 0-2 4, Dinkel 3 1-2 7, Cottle 7 1-2 15, Burke 2 0-0 4; Totals: 27 9-16 66.

Three-point field goals: Lathrop 0, Wasilla 3 (Al. Hutchins 2), Total fouls: Lathrop 12, Wasilla 14.