Wasilla boys rally, move into state title game

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors were having a rough time in the first half Friday.

Wasilla managed only single digits in scoring in each of the first two quarters, and shot a mere 27 percent from the field. But the Warriors kept attacking. And eventually the Wasilla offense got on track.

Wasilla used a 34-point second half to erase a seven-point halftime deficit, and the Warriors scored a 50-43 win over Ketchikan during the 4A boys’ semifinal round of the ASAA/First National Bank State Basketball Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center.

“They buckled down. The kids really trusted the recipe we’ve given them for success,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said after a win that moved Wasilla into the 4A boys state title game for the first time since 2010.

Engebretsen praised his players’ ability to overcome some early adversity before settling into their game.

“There were just no mental breakdowns when things weren’t going our way,” Engebretsen said. “We could have easily collapsed.”

Junior Aeron Milliron sparked Wasilla’s offense early in the third, hitting a three-pointer from the corner with just about six minutes left in the quarter. Engebretsen called the basket, which cut Ketchikan’s lead to 26-20, one of the plays of the game.

“I was so proud of him,” Engebretsen said.

The Milliron three started a 12-2 run for the Warriors, a stretch that included a pair of Daniel Headdings baskets and a huge play set up by Milliron.

With just about two minutes left in the third, Milliron connected with senior Kobe Brown on an alley-oop play. Milliron sent an inbound pass from right in front of the Warriors bench toward the backboard as Brown cut to the backside and got the bucket.

“That was on-point, that was terrific,” Engebretsen said of the pass. “That’s a set play. I asked him to execute something specifically. He couldn’t have put that pass in a better spot.”

The Brown basket tied the score at 26. Brown was also fouled and hit the ensuing free throw to give Wasilla the 27-26 lead. The Warriors would not trail again.

Brown scored 11 of his team-high 14 in the second half and eight in the fourth quarter. Headdings also scored a team-best 14. The duo helped the Warriors shoot 52 percent (11 of 21) in the second half.

Junior Reilly Devine recorded a double-double for the Warriors, adding a game-high 15 rebounds to his 10 points. Engebretsen said Devine was a difference-maker for the Warriors Friday.

“He was dominant,” Engebretsen said. “We knew that both (teams) had really good guards. But Reilly has been a terrific post player for us all year long.”

The top-seeded Warriors now look ahead to second-seeded Dimond, which edged Cook Inlet Conference rival East Anchorage in overtime in the other semifinal. Wasilla will meet the Lynx in the title game Saturday at 7:45 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center. Wasilla is in search of its first state title since 2007.

The Wasilla girls also advanced to the title game, and will also play a Dimond squad at 5:45 p.m. Saturday.

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

Wasilla 50, Ketchikan 43

4A boys semifinals

Friday, Anchorage

Ketchikan 11-12-5-15—43

Wasilla 8-8-13-21—50

Ketchikan (43) — M. Lee 4 1-2 13, C. Lee 4 3-6 11, J. Smith 3 2-4 9, Bauer 3 0-0 6, Taylor 2 9-0 4; Totals: 16 6-12 43.

Wasilla (50) — Brown 4 6-9 14, Headdings 6 2-5 14, Reilly Devine 3 4-4 10, I. Houck 1 2-3 4, Milliron 2 3-4 8; Totals: 16 17-25 50.

3-point field goals: Ketchikan 5 (M. Lee 4), Wasilla 1 (Milliron 1); Total fouls: Ketchikan 17, Wasilla 12.