Warriors power past Wolfpack, earn spot in 4A state title game

ANCHORAGE — It became pretty apparent early that nothing was going to stop the Wasilla Warriors from earning a spot in the state title game.

Not the three-time reigning Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year.

Not a squad that finished as the 4A runner-up last year.

Not the only team from Alaska that has beat Wasilla this season.

Nothing.

Nobody.

Fueled by a 17-point first quarter, a determined group of Warriors drove to a 55-45 win over the West Valley Wolfpack in the semifinal round of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Basketball Championships Friday evening at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

“We came out as a group, worked hard and worked together,” said Wasilla freshman Olivia Davies, who collected 15 points, seven assists and four steals to help the Wasilla earn a spot in the state title game for the first time since 2013. Wasilla now has a chance to win its fifth state championship since 2007. The Warriors face Dimond in the girls’ 4A state title bout Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Wasilla beat West Valley for the third time in four meetings this season. The Warriors’ lone loss to an Alaska school this year came against the Wolfpack, a 54-49 defeat at Wasilla High in February.

“We really wanted this one. We’ve been preparing for this one,” Davies said.

Wasilla coupled its fast start with suffocating defense early. The Warriors opened with a 7-0 run, and allowed only eight West Valley points in the first quarter. Wasilla senor Kellie Lindeman scored Wasilla’s first four points of the game, and the Warriors forced a half-dozen turnovers in the first quarter.

“It was good to have some early buckets, early defensive stops. Our defense really motivates our offense,” Wasilla senior Leya DePriest said.

The Warriors also did whatever they could to slow down West Valley star Ruthy Hebard, who recently earned her third straight Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year award. Hebard was held to only three points, on 1 of 6 shooting in the first half.

“It’s the fourth time we played them. We knew what they had, we knew what we had to do,” Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said. “It’s really about stopping Ruthy. We weren’t going to stop her completely, but (it’s about) slowing her down, not letting her go out and go off and get a lot of points.”

Hebard averaged 25 points and 13 rebounds per game against the Warriors during the first three meetings. She finished with 32 points and a dozen boards during West Valley’s February win against Wasilla.

“She’s such a great player,” DePriest said of Hebard.

Hebard finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds in the West Valley loss, but had only 11 through three quarters.

A physical tone was set early, as the Warriors battled with Hebard for possessions. DePriest was consistently at war in the paint with Hebard. The rivals are good friends outside of basketball. But come game time, things are different, DePriest said.

“We’re really good friends, but obviously, on the floor we hate each other. It takes a couple of days before we’re OK,” DePriest said.

Hebert-Truax said she likes to see that type of rivalry.

“It’s great for the game of basketball to have that rivalry on the floor. Off the floor, they have that good friendship,” Hebert-Truax said.

DePriest also helped spark the Warriors early, scoring 10 first-half points on 5 of 5 shooting. Davies helped continue to drive the Warriors with her team-high 15 points. Davies shot 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. She had a 7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in the game, and matched Lindeman for a game-high four steals.

“I thought Olivia had a great game,” Hebert-Truax said.

Lindeman added nine and Kaylyn Kelly chipped in eight.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Wasilla 55, West Valley 45

4A girls’ semifinals

Friday, Anchorage

West Valley 8-5-14-18—45

Wasilla 17-11-17-10—55

West Valley (45) — Silva 2 3-4 7, Winkelman 2 0-0 4, Campbell 0 2-4 2, Hebard 5 7-8 20, Sample 2 1-2 8, Szmyd 1 1-2 4; Totals: 14 14-20 45.

Wasilla (55) — Kelly 2 4-4 8, Davies 2 2-4 15, Baham 2 0-0 6, Lindeman 4 1-3 9, Brandenburg 2 0-0 4, Dinkel 1 1-2 3, DePriest 5 0-0 10; Totals: 21 8-13 55.