Wasilla girls hold on to beat Knights, lock up No. 1 seed in NLC tourney

WASILLA — Wasilla was held to only one field goal during the fourth quarter, but the Warriors held on for a 47-42 girls basketball victory over rival Colony Friday night at Wasilla High School.

With the win, Wasilla improved to 8-0 in Northern Lights Conference play and locked up the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NLC Championships. Colony (6-2) is the No. 2 seed.

Jordyn Cox led Wasilla with a dozen points in the win, and had her team’s lone bucket during the final eight minutes of the game. Wasilla finished a mere 10 of 26 from the free throw line, but hit just enough free throws down the stretch to stay ahead of the Knights. Harmony McSorley hit three free throws during the final minute of play, and Cox had another free throw late.

Colony’s Tori Schwantes used a rebound and putback with 28 seconds left to cut Wasilla’s lead to 46-42, but were not able to pull within a possession of the Warriors. Schwantes led the Knights with a game-high 17 points. Bella Hays added 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for Wasilla.

The Warriors led by four after the first quarter, and stretched that lead to seven at halftime. Cox scored seven of her 12 points during the first two quarters.

In boys action, Patrick McMahon used a game-high 29 points to lead Colony to a 59-43 win over Wasilla. McMahon scored 18 points in the first half. Colton Spencer added 12 in the win.

Wasilla’s Donnie Lawhead hit four three-pointers in the loss. Three of those threes came within a span of four possessions midway through the second quarter. The third three gave Wasilla18-16 three. Spencer quickly tied the game at 18 for Colony, and the Knights closed the first half on a 13-2 run.

Luke Devine led the Warriors with 14 points. He scored a dozen in the second half, and nine of his team’s 11 third-quarter points. Andrew Devine added eight.

Colony, which had already locked up the No. 1 seed in the NLC tourney, improved to 8-0 in conference play with the win. Wasilla dropped to 3-5.

Hawks split with Seahawks

Houston came from behind to grab a 34-32 Southcentral Conference girls basketball victory over the Seward Seahawks Friday night at Houston High School.

Seward led 7-3 after the first and by a point at halftime, but the Hawks jumped ahead with 10 third-quarter points. Katie Richey led Houston with 10 points in the win. Emily Bitler added six points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Seward boys scored a 68-60 win over Houston.

Kyle McLaughlin led the Hawks with 16 points and eight rebounds.

Cody Wyrick added 13 and Landon Taylor chipped in 10.

Redington boys fall to Kards

Kenai scored a 60-46 win over the Redington boys Friday at Redington. Cort Sandefur led Redington with 14 points. Ruben Bond added 13.

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