Warriors sweep Moose

WASILLA — It didn’t take long for Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen to call his first time out Tuesday night.

About two minutes into the first quarter, with his team already trailing Palmer 8-2, Engebretsen pulled his squad to the sideline. What he said during that 30 seconds became central to what the Warriors were able to do for the next 30 minutes.

“I wasn’t thrilled with our offensive output and what we were doing. What I told them, we are in control with what we do at the defensive end. They just took that and ran with it, and got stop after stop after stop,” Engebretsen said.

Engebretsen’s Warriors followed the timeout with a 13-point run, held the Moose to only three points for the remainder of the first half and scored a 48-37 victory over rival Palmer at Wasilla High School.

“Credit my guys for working their tails off for 32 minutes defensively,” Engebretsen said. “We told them right away, we knew it was going to be a game in the 30s, low 40s.”

Kobe Brown scored eight of his 16 points during Wasilla’s 13-point first-half run and Isaac Houck scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter to help Wasilla improve to 4-1 in Northern Lights Conference play. Palmer dropped to 2-3 in the NLC with the loss.

Michael Kluting and Clayton Southwick, who combined to score 26 of Palmer’s 37 points, had four points each during the first two minutes of the game, and helped Palmer jump to the early 8-2 lead.

But after the pair combined for the four quick field goals around the basket, good looks for the Moose seemed to disappear. Kluting, who hit Wasilla for 27 points in a meeting earlier this season, was held to four in the first half, and 14 in the game Tuesday.

Engebretsen credited Wasilla sophomore Reilly Devine with the defense against Kluting.

“Reilly got right engaged after that. He didn’t want to give up 27 to that guy again,” Engebretsen said.

After Palmer had the 8-2 lead, the Moose were held to only one more field goal in the first half, a Chase Ferris three-pointer with 2:30 left in the second quarter.

With the Wasilla defense clamped down on the Moose, Brown paced the Warrior offense, hitting a trio of long jumpers during Wasilla’s 13-point run.

“Fortunately, Kobe Brown and the rim were just in love tonight,” Engebretsen said. “He got some sweet rolls.”

Freshman Daniel Headdings also hit a three-pointer during that Wasilla run.

Palmer used an 11-point third quarter to stay in the game. Kluting scored eight points during the quarter. Six of those game within about 20 seconds, and helped Palmer cut its deficit to four. At the 3:25 mark, Kluting hit his lone three-pointer of the game to make it a 23-16 game. With just more than three minutes left, Kluting grabbed a steal, went to the basket for a layup, drew the foul and hit the ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play and bring the Moose within four.

The Moose continued with 15 points in the fourth quarter, and Ferris and Payton Martin each hit key three-pointers during the final frame. But the Moose were never able to cut Wasilla’s lead to less than four. Much of that had to do with the fourth-quarter effort of Houck, who scored 15 of Wasilla’s 21 fourth-quarter points.

“Isaac stepped up huge in the fourth quarter,” Engbretsen said.

Palmer cut Wasilla’s lead to four points on final time late when Liam Hughes-Duffy hit a pair of free throws with 1:32 left in the game. Houck answered with a three-point play in the final minute to push Wasilla’s advantage back to seven points.

Both teams continue NLC play on the road. Palmer travels to Kodiak to play the Bears Friday and Saturday. Wasilla will be on the Kenai Peninsula to meet Soldotna on Friday and Kenai on Saturday.

Warriors stop Moose

During their first meeting of the season, the Palmer Moose used 15 first-quarter points to take a 15-11 lead into the second quarter against the Wasilla Warriors.

On Tuesday, Palmer managed only 17 points in the entire game.

Wasilla held Palmer to only six field goals and 14 percent shooting, and raced to a 62-17 win over the Moose at Wasilla High School.

Wasilla opened the game on a 25-point run, and didn’t allow a Palmer point until Moose freshman Schyler Goers got a bucket with 4:52 left in the first half. Thirteen of Palmer’s 17 points came in the second quarter. The Moose were held scoreless in the first quarter, and to a combined four points in the second half.

Catherine Baham led Wasilla’s well-rounded attack with 11 points. Leya DePriest added eight points and six rebounds. Kellie Lindeman also had eight points on 4 of 4 shooting. Olivia Davies added seven points, six rebounds and four assists.

Wasilla shot 51 percent in the win.

Abrianna Busbey led Palmer with six points.

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

Wasilla boys 48, Palmer 37

Tuesday, Wasilla High

Palmer 8-3-11-15—37

Wasilla 4-13-10-21—48

Palmer (37) — Hughes-Duffy 0 2-2 2, Martin 1 0-0 3, Ferris 2 0-0 6, C. Southwick 5 2-4 12, Kluting 5 3-3 14; Totals: 13 7-9 37.

Wasilla (48) — Brown 5 6-7 16, Headdings 2 4-5 9, Devine 1 2-2 4, Houck 6 1-1 15, Milliron 2 0-1 4; Totals: 16 13-16 48.

Wasilla girls 62, Palmer 17

Tuesday, Wasilla High

Palmer 0-13-1-3—17

Wasilla 16-20-11-15—62

Palmer (17) — Busbey 2 1-4 6, Goers 1 0-0 2, King 1 1-2 1, Uschmann 2 0-3 5, Till 0 1-2 1, Dixon 1 0-0 2; Totals: 6 2-13 17.

Wasilla (62) — Kelly 2 1-1 5, Davies 3 1-2 7, Drorbaugh 2 1-2 5, Obermski 1 0-0 2, Baham 4 1-1 13, Lindeman 4 0-0 8, Wheeler 1 2-2 4, Anderson 1 0-0 2, Dinkel 2 2-3 6, Green 2 0-0 4, DePriest 4 0-0 8; Totals: 26 8-13 62.