Wasilla girls win battle of defending state champs

WASILLA — There are only four girls basketball teams in Alaska that can claim defending state champion status.

Two of them were on the floor Wednesday night at Wasilla High School.

Reigning 4A champ Wasilla knocked down 10 three-pointers en route to knocking of 2015-16 3A state champion Barrow 67-44 during the second day of the Doc Larson Roundball Classic at WHS.

McKenna Dinkel dropped in a trio of threes for the Warriors during the final two quarters, and scored a game-best 16 points in the win. Dinkel also sparked Wasilla’s 35-point second half, and helped the Warriors turned a one-possession game into a double-digit victory. Wasilla led by only three points at halftime, but midway through the third, Dinkel hit a three-pointer to give the Warriors a 41-31 advantage. Early in the fourth, Dinkel drained another three to help Wasilla maintain its double-digit lead.

Olivia Davies, Catherine Baham and Azlynn Brandenburg also hit a pair of three-pointers for the Warriors, who shot 55 percent from beyond the arc. Davies scored 15 on 6 of 7 shooting. Brandenburg added a dozen, and Cheyenne Green led Wasilla inside with 11 points.

Dinkel pulled down a team-best six rebounds and Kalyln Kelly supplied a game-high nine assists.

Rose Monogoyak led Barrow with 12 points.

Wasilla and Barrow are among four girls squads competing in the eighth annual tournament. East Anchorage and Sierra Canyon, a team from Chatsworth, California, are also in the field. Earlier Wednesday, Seirra Canyon beat East 73-53.

Wasilla 67, Barrow 44

Doc Larson Roundball Classic

Wednesday, Wasilla

Barrow 17-12-8-7—44

Wasilla 18-14-14-21—67

Barrow (44) — A. Wolgemuth 3 1-2 8, Danner 3 2-2 8, Mongoyak 5 2-2 12, Wright 2 1-2 6, F. Tuai 1 2-3 4, C. Tulai 3 0-0 6; Totals: 17 4-11 44.

Wasilla (67) — Davies 6 1-2 15, Drorbaugh 2 0-0 5, Obremski 1 0-0 2, Baham 2 0-0 6, Brandenburg 5 0-0 12, Dinkel 6 1-2 16, Green 5 1-1 11; Totals: 27 3-5 67.

3-point field goals: Barrow 4 (R. Mongoyak 2), Wasilla 10 (Dinkel 3); Total fouls: Barrow 5. Wasilla 12.