Wasilla boys run past Kings

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors feel like they can show a couple of different looks. There’s the squad that can settle into the half-court, but can also sprint the ball up the floor.

“I think we’ve proven many times we can play both ways. We can slow down and execute you, grind it out and win a three-possession game, or we will push the pace and there will 75 possessions each, and let’s go to the track,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said after his team’s 78-66 victory over Ketchikan Wednesday evening.

Wednesday, Engebretsen’s Warriors chose the latter.

Wasilla used an up-tempo attack to net 46 second-half points and improve to 1-0 in its eight-annual Doc Larson Roundball Classic.

“It was a great team win. A lot of guys stepping up in huge spots against a really quality team,” Engebretsen said. “The guys felt really good about this one.”

Aeron Milliron scored 10 of his 17 points during a pivotal stretch of the third quarter. Early in the third, Ketchikan’s Jake Smith completed a three-point play to give Ketchikan the 42-41 lead. Earlier in the quarter, Smith hit a pair of three-pointers to pull the Kings within a possession. But on the first possession Wasilla trailed in the second half, Milliron took a long pass down the floor and made a quick move to the basket to put the Warriors right back on top. Milliron’s efforts helped Wasilla cap the third quarter with a 14-4 run.

“Aeron took over at that point,” Engebretsen said. ”Aeron became a beast for three or four possessions at that point.”

Kobe Brown also hurt the Kings, scoring a game-high 26 in the win. Brown finished with 11 field goals, and knocked down a trio of three-pointers. Isaac Houck added 13 points for Wasilla, and Harris Fife came off the bench to score nine.

Engebretsen lauded the play of Fife, who scored four key points to help Wasilla take a 32-28 lead into the break.

“The inspiration of Harris Fife to come off the bench and play as well as he did. The guys really fed off that,” Engebretsen said.

Houck also led Wasilla with nine rebounds in the win. Reilly Devine added eight boards, and Milliron chipped in six.

Marcus Lee led Ketchikan with 20 points in the loss.

“Marcus is as good as you are going to get at point guard in this state,” Engebretsen said of the Ketchikan senior.

Brent Taylor added 19 and Smith chipped in 11 for the Kings.

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

Wasilla 78, Ketchikan 66

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Wednesday, Wasilla

Ketchikan 9-19-18-20—66

Wasilla 14-18-23-23—78

Ketchikan (66) — M. Lee 7 2-2 20, C. Lee 4 2-4 10, J. Smith 4 1-1 11, Bauer 3 0-0 6, Taylor 7 2-2 19; Totals: 25 7-9 66.

Wasilla (78) — Brown 11 2-5 26, Headdings 4 0-0 9, Dudley 1 0-0 2, Fife 3 3-4 9, I. Houck 5 3-3 13, Milliron 7 3-5 17; Totals: 32 11-17 78.

3-point field goals: Ketchikan 9 (M. Lee 8), Wasilla 3 (Brown 2); Total fouls: Barrow 12, Wasilla 13.