Wasilla boys, girls open home tourney with wins

WASILLA — Ryan Engebretsen’s Wasilla Warriors are the three-time defending Northern Lights Conference champions. But Engebretsen’s squad lost four starters from the team that clinched the three-peat last season. With the abundance of new talent on the floor, the Warriors head coach is using Wasilla’s holiday basketball tournament as a way to prepare his new group for postseason basketball.

Wasilla shot nearly 50 percent from the field en route to beating Bartlett 67-58 during the first day of the Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic at Wasilla High Thursday.

“We talked about tournament basketball a little bit, what it takes,” Engebretsen, who helped create the fourth-annual Roundball Classic, said. “In order to play in the championship game, you’ve got to win that first one. In order to play in the semifinal, you’ve got to win that first one.”

While the six-team Doc Larson’s is a round-robin event, compared to a traditional bracketed tourney, Engebretsen said the lesson is the same.

“It comes to tournament basketball, and where our goals are at for regions and state,” Engebretsen said. “You’ve got to take care of business.

“We found a way to get the win on the first night. Now we have to see if we can go out and get another win tomorrow.”

Colony, Chugiak and a pair of Outside teams round out the Doc Larson’s boys’ field. The Warriors host Xaverian, a team from Brooklyn, N.Y., tonight and 8 p.m. and close tourney play against Seigel (Tenn.) on Saturday.

Despite turning the ball over 24 times and allowing a late Bartlett run, Wasilla held on for the nine-point win. Engebretsen said 24 turnovers are never acceptable, but he is pleased his team was able to hold on a secure the victory.

“I’ll take that win and learn from it. It’s always easier than taking a loss and seeing what we can teach out of it,” Engebretsen said.

Sophomore Dane Kuiper led the Warriors with 32 points in the win. Kuiper was 14 of 23 from the floor, and grabbed eight rebounds. Cash McGregor posted a double-double for Wasilla, with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Dustin Cook also had a strong night for the Warriors, with 10 points and six rebounds.

Kuiper and McGregor were regulars in the rotation last season, but Cook is among the promising newcomers to the varsity lineup. Cook scored six of his 10 points during the first quarter to help spark the Warriors.

“For him to come out and have that success early in the season, I’m excited for him,” Engebretsen said of Cook. “He’s been a great addition in the sense his work ethic is up there. It’s what we expect out of our kids. He plays hard, has the desire and works his tail off.”

Earlier in the day, Siegel used a 31-point fourth quarter to beat Colony 81-61.

The Knights played with the Tennessee squad for more than three quarters and trailed by only six points with 3:19 left in the fourth quarter. Colony freshman Bailey West hit a three-pointer to cut Seigel’s lead to 67-61 at the 3:19 mark, but that would mark Colony’s final basket on the game. Seigel closed the game on a 14-0 run.

Joe Gray hit 5 of 7 from behind the arc and scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Knights. Hunter Eisenhower added 18 points and Antonio Bush pulled down a game-best 14 rebounds.

Colony plays Chugiak today at 4:30 p.m.

Xaverian also beat Chugiak 67-27.

In girls’ action, senior Kyla Dinkel poured in 23 points to lead Wasilla to a 56-24 win over Chugiak. Dinkel hit 10 shots from the floor and nearly outscored Chugiak by herself.

Alexis Imoe added 11 points for Wasilla, and Alysha Devine scored all 10 of her points during the first half.

Wasilla hosts Century (Ore.) tonight at 6:15 p.m.

Wasilla boys 67, Bartlett 58

Doc Larson Roundball Classic

Thursday, Wasilla High School

Bartlett 18-12-11-17—58

Wasilla 18-15-18-16—67

Bartlett (58) — Light 3 2-6 8, White 3 0-2 8, Rowland 4 0-0 9, Johnson 2 0-0 4, Ruble 3 0-09 6, Stanley 2 1-4 6, Sherman-Newsome 4 1-2 9, Malone 2 1-2 6, Romero-Lewis 1 0-0 2; Totals: 24 5-16 58

Wasilla (67) — Brown 4 1-2 9, Krueger 2 0-0 4, Kuiper 14 3-3 32, McGregor 5 2-2 12, Cook 5 0-3 10; Totals: 30 5-8 33.

Wasilla girls 56, Chugiak 24

Doc Larson Roundball Classic

Thursday, Wasilla High School

Wasilla 20-12-14-10—56

Chugiak 9-1-5-9—24

Wasilla (56) — Ford 1 0-0 2, Imoe 4 2-2 11, Devine 4 0-1 10, Toews 1 0-0 2, Hutchins 1 0-0 2, Dinkel 10 3-4 23, Burke 1 0-0 2; Edwards 1 0-0 2, No. 5 0 2-2 2; Totals: 23 7-8 56.

Chugiak (24) — Samaniego 3 1-2 7, Russel 1 0-0 2, Matthis 2 1-2 5, McMullen 0 0-2 0, Scott 1 0-0 3, Metcalf 1 2-2 4, McAleavey 1 0-0 3; Totals: 9 4-8 24.

Siegel (Tenn.) boys 81, Colony 61

Doc Larson Roundball Classic

Thursday, Wasilla High School

Siegel 16-18-16-31—81

Colony 13-13-17-18—61

Siegel (81) — Brandon 10 0-1 20, Clark 6 4-8 17, Trice 1 0-0 2, Gooch 6 2-2 15, Jones 2 4-4 9, McGee 0 1-2 1, Simpson 2 0-0 4, Roberts 3 1-1 7, Clark 3 0-0 6; Totals: 33 12-18 81.

Colony (61) — Gray 6 2-2 19, Fulp 1 6-7 9, Umbarger 1 2-2 2, West 1 0-0 3, Bush 3 0-1 6, Compton 1 0-0 2, Eisenhower 8 0-0 18, Huffman 1 0-0 2; Totals: 21 10-12 61.