Wasilla girls rebound from back-to-back losses against rival

PALMER — Before last week, the phrases “Wasilla girls basketball” and “losing streak” could not be found in the same sentence together. But after consecutive losses to Juneau-Douglas and Dimond during the final two rounds of the Lady Lynx Shootout in Anchorage, the previously undefeated Warriors found themselves on their first skid of the season.

But Tuesday, the Warriors got back on the winning track. Wasilla used a gritty performance to score a 35-28 win over the Colony Knights at Colony High School.

Wasilla earned the Northern Lights Conference win despite being held without a field goal during the fourth quarter, but sophomore Alexis Imoe hit 6 of 8 free throws during the final period to help the Warriors hold on for the win and stay undefeated in NLC play. Imoe, who led the team with 11, scored six of Wasilla’s seven fourth-quarter points.

Colony only hit one field goal during the final eight minutes, a Mary Klapperich three-pointer. But Colony was just 4 for 12 from the free-throw line during the fourth. Klapperich’s three-pointer came at the 4:30 mark and cut Wasilla’s lead to 28-25.

Senior Kelsey Cottle added 10 points to Imoe’s 11 for the Warriors. Junior Alyssa Hutchins added seven, scoring five in the first quarter.

Senior Kate Klapperich led the Knights with seven points Mary Klapperich added six.

The match paired two of the state’s top-four teams, according to the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches poll. While Wasilla struggled during the Lady Lynx Shootout, the Knights had a big weekend, playing their way deep into the tourney. Colony beat a pair of ranked opponents in the first two rounds, North Pole and host Dimond. Defending state champion Juneau-Douglas beat Colony to win the tourney hosted by Dimond High.

Wasilla 35, Colony 28

Tuesday, Colony High

Wasilla 9-4-15-8—35

Colony 6-4-11-7—28

Wasilla (35) – Hutchins 2 2-4 7, Apangolook 1 0-0 2, Imoe 1 8-9 11, Brown 0 1-2 1, Colegrove 2 0-0 4, Cottle 3 4-6 10; Totals: 9 14-21 35.

Colony (28) – M. Klapperich 2 1-2 6, Nelson 1 0-0 2, K. Klapperich 3 0-0 7, Brumbaugh 1 0-0 2, Stefanski 1 0-0 2, Leigh 2 1-6 5, Forstner 1 2-6 4;

Totals: 11 4-14 28.