Wasilla boys outlast Colony

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors, the defending state champions, are no stranger to big games in recent seasons. But as Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen addressed his team in the locker room prior to its home game Tuesday night he knew the match against Colony would be the biggest thus far for his four first-year starters in the lineup.

Engebretsen’s message was simple.

“This is your first rodeo,” Engebretsen said of what he told his players. “What are you going to do? How do you want to make your statement?”

His Warriors answered.

Wasilla outlasted rival Colony 68-60 at Wasilla High School.

“They came out ready to play,” Engebretsen said.

Tuesday was not Daniel Headdings’ first rodeo. Headdings, Wasilla’s lone returning starter from the team that topped Dimond in the 2018 4A state title game, poured in a game-high 30 points. The senior standout hit 10 field goals, including four three pointers, and was 6 of 7 from the free throw line.

“He was a stud tonight,” Engebretsen said of Headdings. “Hands down, he looked like the best player in the state tonight.”

Headdings scored 13 of his team’s 16 second-quarter points, and capped his game with 10 fourth-quarter points. Engebretsen said Headdings played composed, ran the show and helped set up his teammates to have success.

But as much of an impact Headdings made, Engebretsen said the victory was an even greater team win.

Kody Campbell finished with 13 points. Luke Devine chipped in nine. Jeffrey Kauffman and Andrew Devine added six and four points respectively.

“Guys like Kody, Luke, Jeff and Andrew all stepped up,” Engebretsen said of his first-year starters. “Daniel stepped up to play, but at the same time it was a great team win. Everybody flat out hooped. I’m so proud of my guys.”

Campbell hit a key three-pointer in the third, and Kauffman brought a standing room only crowd to its feet with a drive and dunk in transition in the second half.

Spencer Koval came off the bench and hit a pair of threes in the first half.

“It was a complete team effort across the board,” Engebretsen said.

Wasilla needed the team effort to get past a Colony team that also stood out Tuesday.

Senior Sullivan Menard and sophomore Patrick McMahon each supplied a team-high 21 points in the loss. Menard hit five three-pointers. McMahon scored eight of Colony’s 11 second-quarter points.

The loss is just Colony’s second of the season. Both of Colony’s losses have come to teams that played for a 4A state title last season. Dimond topped Colony in the title game of the Cactus Jam in Arizona in November. The Knights have already won a pair of tournaments. Colony was 3-0 in the Doc Larson Roundball Classic at Wasilla at the Mt. McKinley Bank Holiday Classic in Fairbanks.

Wasilla girls get past Knights

A second-quarter defensive stand helped the Wasilla girls score a Northern Lights Conference win over the rival Colony Knights Tuesday night.

Wasilla held Colony to just a free throw late in the second quarter of a 42-32 win over the Knights. Wasilla finished the second on a 9-1 run in the win, and improved to 3-0 in NLC play.

Sheridan Green led Wasilla with 10 points. Harmony McSorley added nine points. Bella Hays finished with eight points a game-high 12 rebounds. Abby Kenley led Colony with 10. Indiya Clark had 10 rebounds for the Knights.

Wasilla boys 68, Colony 60

Tuesday, Wasilla High

Colony 18-11-16-15—60

Wasilla 13-16-18-21—68

Colony (60) — McMahon 8 5-7 21, Menard 7 2-3 21, Spencer 3 0-0 7, McPhail 1 1-2 3, Hersrud 2 2-2 6, Baker 1 0-0 2; Totals: 22 10-14 60.

Wasilla (68) — Campbell 5 2-2 13, Kauffman 3 0-0 6, Headdings 10 6-7 30, Kovall 2 0-0 6, L. Devine 2 5-6 9, A. Devine 2 0-0 4; Totals: 24 13-15 68.

Wasilla girls 42, Colony girls 32

Tuesday, Wasilla High

Colony 11-1-8-12—32

Wasilla 15-9-4-14—42

Colony (32) — Duguid 2 0-1 2, Dunlop 0 1-2 1, Kenley 4 0-0 10, Bull 2 1-2 5, Clarke 2 16 5, Spencer 0 1-2 1, Schwantes 2 2-2 6, Simpson 1 0-0 2; Totals: 12 6-17 32.

Wasilla (42) — McSorley 2 5-7 9, Alley 1 0-0 3, Lawhead 2 0-0 4, S. Green 4 2-6 10, C. Green 3 0-0 6, Cox 1 0-0 2, Hays 3 2-6 8; Totals: 16 9-19 42.