Warriors, Knights compete for top spot

The Wasilla Warriors and Colony Knights boys' basketball teams began play in the state high school basketball tournament yesterday at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

The Wasilla boys' team came into the tournament as the third seed after winning the Region III championship Saturday at Skyview.

Wasilla defeated Kenai 67-37 in the Region III championship game to complete a sweep of all Region III teams this year.

Wasilla coach Chuck Martin believes the team is prepared to take on the state's best teams in tournament play.

"We've played the toughest schedule in the WPI (Winning Percentage Index)," he said. "The purpose of a tough schedule is to make you a good team at the end. I don't think we can be in better shape."

The WPI measures strength of schedule and how a team does against that schedule. The WPI is used to determine the seeding process for the state tournament.

Wasilla has played every team in the tournament at least once this season. The Warriors have played top-ranked Bartlett and second-ranked Juneau twice each. Wasilla lost to both teams early in the season but returned to defeat them in the rematches.

Martin has been pleased with the progress that the team has made this year, stating that the defense has played terrific, holding opponents to 36 percent shooting from the floor.

"That is a great accomplishment considering the caliber of teams that we have played this year," he said.

Martin said that the offense has struggled somewhat this year, but he says that is due in part to the defense that opposing teams play against them.

"Everyone tries to slow us down, which doesn't allow us to get into a good rhythm," he said. "We have stars like Adam Fitt-Chappell and Ray Schafer who get us the points, but we also have good role players who know what they are supposed to do."

Martin sums up the strength of the Wasilla squad with one word -- team.

"This is truly a team," he said. "There are no selfish players here. They do what it takes to win."

Martin is happy with where Wasilla is seeded in the state tournament, but states that it wouldn't matter because there are no bad teams in this tournament.

"I have been in 13 state tournaments in my career and from top to bottom this is the best field of teams I have ever seen," he said.

Wasilla opened the tournament against Lathrop yesterday with results not available by press time. The Warriors will play either Colony or Juneau today.

The Colony Knights enter the tournament as the seventh seed after taking third in the Region III tournament.

Colony coach Phil Engebretsen feels the team is right on track coming into the state tournament.

"We are basically a team of juniors who are still learning and getting better mentally," he said. "After losing to Kenai in the region tournament, our team made a statement by beating a very good Palmer team."

The Knights aren't a big team that can dominate inside, but Engebretsen says that the combination of Brandon Hyslip, Joe Reza and Jason Christensen play well inside to hold teams to one shot on offense.

Engebretsen believes that the team strength lies in the defense, specifically defending in the half-court. His concern on offense is the inconsistent scoring the team has sometimes displayed that has prevented them from staying with teams in the second half of games.

Colony played Juneau yesterday and will meet either Wasilla or Lathrop today. Colony has played every team in the tournament except Lathrop.

"We are positioned exactly where we deserve to be in the tournament," Engebretsen said of Colony's seeding in the tournament. "We must score in the second half of our games to win."