Warriors too much for Chugiak

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors used a variety of attacks to beat the Chugiak Mustangs 71-33 during the first day of Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic at Wasilla High School Monday night.

The Warriors sank nine three-pointers. The deep ball paired with the inside game of Kelsey Cottle and Kyla Dinkel gave the Warriors a clear advantage and easy path to victory.

“It opens up the game and takes pressure off our inside game. When they’re hitting like that, it brings everybody’s game up. It’s going to make it harder for teams to defend us,” said Jeannie Hebert-Truax of hitting the long shot.

Junior guard Alyssa Hutchins led the team offensively with 19 points, and defensively with seven steals while heading Wasilla’s pressure.

Chugiak started off the game in a zone defense designed to deny the 6-foot-6 Cottle of offensive possessions. That plan backfired for the Mustangs. Hilary Apangalook and Hutchins hit back-to-back three-pointers midway through the first, and it was evident the Warriors had the hot hand from beyond the arc. Hutchins and Apangalook both hit four, while Alexis Imoe hit another.

Chugiak’s defense and ball movement was the secret to the early success for the Mustangs. The Mustangs rattled off a six-point streak early in the second quarter.

Wasilla’s defense would step it up, though. Once the Warriors became familiar with the Chugiak offense, they stopped the Chugiak ball movement effectively.

Wasilla’s defense would be responsible for forcing 36 turnovers before the night was over.

Inside the paint, the Warriors were also dominant. Fourty-seven of the Warriors 71 points resulted from an offensive rebound.

“Last year we were pretty much an inside type of team,” said Hebert-Truax.

Cottle ended her night with 15 points. Dinkel chipped in six. Senior Celeste Colegrove added five points and seven rebounds.

Hutchins was a nightmare for Chugiak for all 32 minutes. Whether scoring from behind the arc, driving the lane, dishing to teammates or causing problems defensively, Hutchins energetically led the Warriors.

“She’s been doing exactly what we’ve asked of her. She has great intensity, great court awareness. Hilary, Alexis, Alyssa — any one of them can be my point guard at certain times to set it up and run things,” the Wasilla head coach said.

Imoe scored nine points.

Tracie Haken led the Mustangs offensively with eight points. Alistie Aguilar headed the trap-zone defense with four steals. Jessie McMullen pulled down five rebounds for the Mustangs. The Warriors move on in round-robin play tonight against North Pole at 6:20 p.m.

Palmer High School senior Tim Rockey contributes to the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports and schools sections.

Wasilla 71, Chugiak 33

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Monday, Wasilla High School

Chugiak 12-5-6-10—33

Wasilla 18-23-16-14—71

Chugiak (33): Tramp 1 0-0 2, Matthis 2 0-2 5, Heller 1 1-2 3, Aguilar 2 0-0 4, McMullen 3 1-4 7, Scotland 2 0-0 4, Haken 3 1-2 8; Totals: 14 3-10 33.

Wasilla (71): Hutchins 5 5-19 19, Apangolook 6 1-1 17, Imoe 4 0-0 9, Colegrove 1 3-6 5, Dinkel 3 0-0 6, Cottle 6 3-5 15; Totals: 25 12-21 71.

Three-point field goals: Chugiak 2 (Matthis, Haken 1); Wasilla 9 (Apangolook, Hutchins 4).

Newberg (Ore.) 37, North Pole 28

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Monday, Wasilla High School

North Pole (28): Smothers 3 1-3 9, Broderick 2 2-4 6, McIntosh 0 2-2 2, McKinnel 0 1-2 1, Church 2 1-1 5, White 2 1-2 5; totals: 9 8-16 28.

Newberg (37): Lee 0 2-2 2, Mromagem 3 0-0 8, O’Halloran 2 0-0 4, Sherrard 3 1-2 7, Albo 1 0-0 2, Woginrich 2 0-1 5, Wilfong 0 1-2 1, Green 4 0-6 8; Totals: 15 4-13 37.