Wasilla girls, boys beat Kenai, Soldotna

WASILLA —The Wasilla Warriors had to wait for the offense to come Thursday night. Friday night, there wasn’t much waiting.

“We were getting opportunities offensively. If we started getting those to fall, we’d eventually pull away,” Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said of the Warriors’ 44-21 win over the Kenai Kardinals Thursday.

Friday, the Warriors scored 23 in the first quarter, and cruised to a 65-22 win over Soldotna.

Wasilla also enjoyed big third quarters in each conference win that pushed the Warriors to 7-0 in Northern Lights Conference play. Thursday, Wasilla used a 17-3 third-quarter run to get past Kenai. Forwards Leya DePriest and Cassidy Edwards combined for nine of Wasilla’s 17 third-quarter points. DePriest finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Edwards added 10 points and nine boards. The big third-quarter run helped open up what was a tight game through two quarters. Wasilla led 14-12 at the half.

“The defense was good in both halves,” Hebert-Truax said. “Eventually (in the second half), we caught the ball and made some layups. The girls fed off each other.”

Friday, the Warriors piled on 28 third-quarter points, and led 59-20 heading into the final period.

DePriest led Wasilla with a game-high 15 against the Stars. Freshman Azlynn Brandenburg added a dozen.

Boys complete sweep

The Wasilla boys used a monster fourth quarter to complete a weekend sweep of a pair of region rivals.

Wasilla used a 30-point fourth quarter to grab a 77-59 victory over Soldotna at Wasilla High Friday night.

Soldotna led 38-30 at the halfway mark of the third quarter. The Warriors capped the third with a 17-6 run that allowed Wasilla to take the lead.

In the fourth quarter, Wasilla’s offense took over, and the Warriors scored 30 points in the final frame. Senior Alex Baham knocked down a pair of three-pointers, and scored 12 of his team-high 24 in the fourth. Sam Loyer added a three-pointer in the fourth, and Cameron Brown scored six of his 17 points in the final period.

Isaac Hock added 16 points in the win for the Warriors.

Thursday, Wasilla used a big third quarter to post a 62-48 win over Kenai.

Houck and Zack Garnett combined for 10 points during the first 90 seconds of the third quarter to help Wasilla cruise to a boys basketball win over Kenai. Houck got the bucket, drew the foul and hit the free throw to complete a three-point play on two early possessions in the third quarter. Garnett also had four points early in the third.

Hock scored eight of his team-high 13 points during Wasilla’s 23-point third quarter. Ryen Millron and Alex Baham added 11 each for Wasilla.

Keith Ivy posted a game-high 14 for Kenai.

Wasilla girls 65, Soldotna 22

Friday, Wasilla High

Soldotna 8-5-7-2—22

Wasilla 23-8-28-6—65

Soldotna (22) — Shaw 0 3-4 3, McElroy 0 1-4 1, Ramsell 2 3-5 7, Miller 2 3-8 7, Glaves 1 0-0 2: Totals: 6 10-24 22.

Wasilla (65) — Kelly 1 0-0 2, Drorbaugh 1 0-0 2, Vasquez 0 1-2 1, Heath 1 1-2 3, Baham 4 0-0 12, Lindeman 1 0-0 2, Brandenburg 2 8-10 12, Anderson 1 0-1 3, Dinkel 1 2-2 4, Edwards 3 3-4 9, DePriest 6 3-5 15; Totals: 21 18-26 65.

3-point field goals: Soldotna 0, Wasilla 5 (Baham 4); Total fouls: Soldotna 20, Wasilla 22.

Wasilla boys 77, Soldotna 59

Friday, Wasilla High

Soldotna 11-16-17-15—59

Wasilla 12-12-23-30—77

Soldotna (59) — Kuntz 1 0-2 3, Weltzin 9 4-9 20, Furlong 2 0-0 5, Phillips 1 0-0 2, Spence 4 8-8 17, Fowler 3 2-4 8; Totals: 20 14-23 57.

Wasilla (77) — Burns 1 1-3 3, Brown 5 6-8 17, Milliron 2 3-4 7, Trotta 2 0-0 5, Baham 7 7-9 24, Barrett 1 0-0 2, Loyer 1 0-0 3, Houck 7 2-2 16; Totals: 26 119-26 77.

3-point field goals Soldotna 3 (3 tied with 1), Wasilla; Total fouls: Soldotna 19

Wasilla girls 44, Kenai 21

Thursday, Wasilla High

Kenai 6-6-3-6—21

Wasilla 8-6-17-13—44

Kenai (21) — Ostrander 1 1-2 5, Steinbeck 0 3-4 , Baker 1 0-0 2, Barcus 3 1-2 7, Beck 1 2-2 4, Every 1 0-2 2; Totals: 7 7-12 21.

Wasilla (44) — Heath 1 0-0 2, Baham 3 0-0 8 Brandenburg 3 0-0 6, Toews 1 0-2 2, Anderson 1 0-0 3, Edwards 3 4-4 10, DePriest 5 3-4 13; Totals: 17 7-10 44.

3-point field goals: Kenai 0, Wasilla 3 (Baham 2); Total fouls: Kenai 9, Wasilla 14.

Wasilla boys 62, Kenai 48

Thursday, Wasilla High

Kenai 6-10-12-20—48

Wasilla 17-11-23-11—62

Kenai (48) —Theisen 0 1-2 1, Ivy 5 2-5 14, McKee 2 1-2 6, Tri. Landry 2 0-1 4, Ta. Landry 2 2-2 6, Jackman 3 2-2 9, Vest 1 1-2 4, Foree 2 0-0 4; Totals: 17 9-16 48.

Wasilla (62) — Burns 3 2-3 8, C. Brown 4 0-0 8, Milleron 4 1-2 11, Baham 3 5-6 11, Garnett 3 2-2 8, Houck 4 5-6 13, K. Brown 1 0-0 3; Totals: 22 15-19 62.

3-point field goals: Wasilla 4 (Milleron 2), Kenai 5 (Ivy 2)