Wasilla girls, boys eye return to state title game

PALMER — Both the Wasilla High girls and boys basketball squads advanced to the 4A state game last year, and each team is expected to be in the hunt once again.

The Wasilla girls are the two-time defending state champions, but the Warriors have spent the early portion of the season working to fill the void left by the loss of six seniors to graduation.

“We’re trying to find our way,” Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said recently. “Mix and match three returning varsity players with a bunch of junior varsity kids.”

Hebert-Truax said the Wasilla coaches have stressed that this is a far different squad from the teams that won state championships in 2016 and 2017.

“We’re working on some things, getting some things together,” Hebert-Truax said. “Getting them to mesh and understand the team needs to find its own identity and not rest on the laurels of the six seniors who graduated.”

Wasilla does return to pair of players who received all-state recognition last year, guards Olivia Davies and Azlynn Brandenburg. Davies was named first-team all-state as a sophomore and Brandenburg, now a senior, was named to the third team.

Hebert-Truax said the Warriors are looking for seniors Maclaren Obremski, Carissa Vasquez and Taylor Anderson to step into larger roles.

“Maclaren can shoot the ball and play some good defense. Carissa as a senior can step in and give us a little spark. Taylor Anderson gives us some shooting ability,” Hebert-Truax said.

The Warriors also have three players — Cheyenne Green, Diondra Lawhead and Desirae Titus — who will work inside. Aside from Brandenburg and Davies, Green is the most experienced varsity player on the roster.

Overall, Hebert-Truax said the Warriors have been putting in the effort.

“The kids are working hard, going through our ups and downs,” Hebert-Truax said.

The Wasilla boys didn’t take nearly as big of a hit to graduation, but did lose a pair of key starters from a team that finished as the 2017 4A runner-up. Isaac Houck and Kobe Brown both graduated after helping lead the Warriors deep into the state tournament. But Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen is excited about the pieces he has to work with this season. Three of his leaders — seniors Reilly Devine and Aeron Milliron, and junior Daniel Headdings — are in their third season in the starting lineup.

“Comparing last year to this year, I think we are less experienced, but can go deeper into the rotation at times,” Engebretsen said.

A key last year for the Warriors was returning all five starters from the season before.

“Returning all five starters last year meant everything when it came down to confidence with each other and knowing what each other brought to the table,” Engebretsen said. “This year’s group is every bit as dynamic, and is figuring out the expectations and how to accomplish great things as a unit.”

Wasilla’s biggest addition to the squad is senior Jordan Knight, who moved to Wasilla during the offseason. Sophomores Levi Houck and Luke Devine area also seeing big minutes. Senior Caden Dudley is among the first off the bench.

“This year’s group has different styles of offensive weapons and has bought in defensively as we want to achieve,” Engebretsen said.

The ultimate goal?

“To be 12.3 seconds better,” Engebretsen said.

The 12.3 seconds represents the time left on the clock when Dimond was able to pull off a late rally top the Warriors in the 2017 state title game. Engebretsen said his players are putting in the work and showing the desire to return to the state title game.

“They show up every day in practice with a willingness and toughness to do the right things, improve,” Engebretsen said. “We have lots of different pieces, lots of different guys who really commit to whatever role they are in any given situation.”

** Editor’s note: This is the third part of a five-piece series featuring the Valley’s 3A and 4A basketball programs. For more on the Colony Knights and Palmer Moose, see frontiersman.com/sports. For more on the Redington Huskies and Houston Hawks, see an upcoming edition of the Frontiersman. Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.