Wasilla boys, girls hoops squads loaded with experience

** Editor’s note: This is a second piece of a five-part series featuring the boys’ and girls’ basketball programs of the Colony Knights, Houston Hawks, Palmer Moose, Redington Huskies and Wasilla Warriors. For the feature about the Knights, see frontiersman.com/sports. For features about the Hawks, Moose and Huskies, see upcoming editions of the Frontiersman.

WASILLA — The Wasilla boys and girls basketball squads had very different experiences during the 4A state tournament last season.

The Wasilla boys were 0-2 in the tournament. The girls were crowned state champions.

But the Wasilla boys and girls have some things in common. Each squad graduated only two players during the offseason, and both teams can use their experience in the state tournament as motivation to help power them through the new campaign.

For the first time during his tenure with the Wasilla boys, head coach Ryan Engebretsen has a squad that sports five returning starters. Engebretsen said those are five players who share the same feelings produced by a rough outing at the 2016 state tournament.

“All lived that disappointment at state,” Engebretsen said. “All five guys are hungry to not let that happen again.”

The experience and motivation could become part of a winning formula for the returning starters — seniors Kobe Brown and Isaac Houck, juniors Reilly Devine and Aeron Milliron, and sophomore Daniel Headdings. Engebretsen said each brings a unique talent, and all believe in the collective goal.

“Everyone brings something different to the table,” Engebretsen said. “The biggest testament is how committed to doing the right thing for the other guys. They don’t want to let each other down. Whatever their role is, they truly embrace it.”

Engebretsen said the wide range of skill sets in his lineup allow the Warriors to have success while playing different styles on the court. Already this season, the Warriors have been able to run up and down the floor and push pace against team, and settle into the half-court and slow things down.

“It’s proof how dynamic this group can be at times,” Engebretsen said.

Engebretsen said those traits also extend to key reserves like senior Harris Fife and junior Caden Dudley.

While the Wasilla boys are eager to work their way to the top, the Wasilla girls are on top, after a 44-40 win over Dimond in the 4A girls’ title game. Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said her players don’t necessarily feel additional pressure as the defending champs, but are instead motivated to stay ahead of the field.

“I think we kind of thrive on that,” Hebert-Truax said. “Everybody is gunning for us.”

Everybody will be gunning a familiar Wasilla squad, with the bulk of its state championship roster back for this season. The Warriors did lose 6-foot-3 forward Leya DePriest, who is now a freshman at Division I University of Denver.

“There’s a little different dynamic. We’re not quite as big without Leya in the middle,” Hebert-Truax said.

But with the loss of DePreist, an all-state forward, the Warriors will show different looks inside.

“We’re a little bit quicker overall in all five spots,” Hebert-Truax said.

Hebert-Truax said senior Catherine Baham has stepped into a bigger role. The Warriors also have senior McKenna Dinkel, who can attack from inside and the outside. Sophomore Cheyenne Green is also establishing herself inside, Hebert-Truax said.

The Warriors will once again boast nice depth. Hebert-Truax said she can comfortably turn to her eighth, and even ninth, player on the roster.

“I put my eight and nine people in this weekend, and I don’t think we lose too much,” Hebert-Truax said after the Doc Larson Roundball Classic earlier this month. “They bring different things.”

The Warriors are also once again loaded with guards. Sophomore Olivia Davies, junior Azlynn Brandenburg and senior Kaylyn Kelly are routinely in the starting lineup. Hebert-Truax can also has the likes of seniors Willow Drorbaugh and Mallory Wheeler and junior Maclaren Obremski.

Hebert-Truax said this is the best three-point shooting team she’s had in recent memory.

“We’ve got a lot of shooters,” Hebert-Truax said.

The Warriors have no shortage of players who can step out and hit the three, but Hebert-Truax the Warriors can balance shooting the three and attacking the basket.

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