Wasilla boys cruise into final

SOLDOTNA — Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen was happy following Friday’s 52-31 win over Kenai Central in the semifinals of the Northern Lights Conference tournament at Skyview High School in Soldotna.

But not that happy.

“Just getting to state is not our goal. Our first and primary goal is to win championships,” Engebretsen said after his team clinched a berth in the state tournament. “We’re one step closer to that goal.”

In order to accomplish a championship goal, the Warriors must still get past the Colony Knights in Saturday’s 8 p.m. championship game.

Wasilla overcame a sluggish opening half to run away from the Kardinals in the second half. The Warriors outscored Kenai 29-12 after the half.

Kenai actually led 16-14 late in the first on a bucket by Bo Reilly. But after that it was all Wasilla as the Warriors closed the game on a monster 38-16 run.

“We just stuck with our game plan,” Engebretsen said.

Cody Pfeifer was nearly perfect in the game, scoring 23 points and nailing 9-of-10 free throws. Pfeifer’s only real mistake came late in the third quarter, when the 6-foot-3 senior guard missed a fast-break dunk attempt that would have put an exclamation point on Wasilla’s big win.

Connor Devine added 16 points for the Warriors.

Bo Reilly led Kenai with nine points.

WASILLA 52, KENAI 31

NLC semifinals

Friday, Skyview High School

Wasilla 12 9 14 15 – 52

Kenai 5 14 7 5 – 31

WASILLA (52) – Quanga 2 0-0 5, Kuiper 2 0-0 4, Pfeifer 7 9-10 23, Devine 7 2-4 16, Ford 1 2-2 4. Totals – 19 13-16 52.

KENAI (31) – Lowe 2 0-0 4, Hull 2 1-1 6, Kiefer 2 0-0 5, Spalding 0 1-2 1, Risung 0 1-2 1, Sandahl 0 2-4 2, Reilly 4 1-2 9, Hayes 1 0-0 2, Wensley 0 1-2 1. Totals – 11 7-13 31.

3-point field goals – Wasilla 1 (Quanga), Kenai 2 (Kiefer, Hull). Fouled out – none. Total fouls – Wasilla 16, Kenai 17.