Wasilla girls leave Soldotna seeing stars

WASILLA — Wasilla was undefeated in conference play during the regular season. Soldotna had only one loss.

Both moved into the conference title game as the top team in their respective divisions. But if there was any question about which is the best team in the Northern Lights Conference, it was answered Saturday.

The Warriors left no doubt in anyone’s mind.

Wasilla jumped ahead with an early eight-point run and never looked back, clobbering the Stars 55-30 in the NLC title game at Wasilla High School.

“I think we definitely made a statement,” said Wasilla senior Alyssa Hutchins, one of two players named NLC Player of the Year following the tournament.

It was the second straight night Wasilla used a dominant effort in the first quarter to lay the groundwork for a dominating win. Wasilla had a nine-point run early in its semifinal win over Colony on Friday.

“It was big, such a jumpstart to the team,” Hutchins said.

Hutchins said it is important to have these types of performances as the Warriors now look to defend their state championship.

“It was good to come out and play two really strong games. It was good leading up to state,” Hutchins said.

Hutchins scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the first half. And while the Warriors had the scoring of the UAA-bound guard, defense was the story again for Wasilla.

The Warriors held Soldotna to only four points in each of the first two quarters and 14 through three quarters. Soldotna shot only 27 percent from the field, and didn’t hit a three-pointer in the game. It was much of the same against Colony.

“It was a great two games. We put a heck of a defense on against those two teams,” Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said.

Part of the task for the Warriors Saturday was slowing down Soldotna junior Kaillee Skjold, who shared NLC Player of the Year honors with Hutchins. Skjold scored all four of her team’s points in the first half, but was held to only six through three quarters. She shot just 4 of 12 from the field and spent the game blanketed by either Alexis Imoe or Alysha Devine.

“Those two did their job,” Hutchins said.

Skjold scored 14 in the game, but eight points came in the fourth.

“Alexis did a great job defensively, Alysha too. Savannah (Burke) was stopping them inside. I thought Alyssa Hutchins had some great defense, too,” said Hebert-Truax, who also noted the work of senior Pherrari Brumbaugh.

Skjold gave Soldotna an early 2-0 lead, but the Warriors followed with an 8-0 run.

In addition to Hutchins’ 18, Devine shot 60 percent from the floor and added a dozen points. Kyla Dinkel chipped in six points and seven rebounds.

Both Wasilla and Soldotna now head to the state tournament in Anchorage in two weeks.

“It’s pretty special,” Hutchins said of the region title. “Of course, the big thing we’re looking for is the state title.”

Wasilla 55, Soldotna 30

NLC championship game

Saturday, Wasilla High

Soldotna 4-4-6-16—30

Wasilla 10-16-16-13—55

Soldotna (30) — Benson 1 2-2 4, Kress 2 0-0 4, Litchfield 1 2-6 4, Kervliet 1 0-0 2, Westerman 1 0-0 2, Skjold 4 6-6 14; Totals: 10 10-14 30.

Wasilla (55) — Hutchins 5 7-8 18, Imoe 4 0-0 8, Koso 1 0-0 2, Brumbaugh 2 0-0 4, Devine 6 0-1 12, Labuda 1 0-0 3, Dinkle 3 0-0 6, Burke 1 0-0 2; Totals: 23 7-8 55.

Three-point field goals: Soldotna 0, Wasilla 2 (Hutchins, Labuda 1); Total fouls: Soldotna 11, Wasilla 13.