Wasilla High hosting hoops tourney

WASILLA — When Wasilla boys basketball head coach Ryan Engrebresten helped create the Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic tournament in 2009, his intention was to bring great competition to the Valley every winter.

Six years later, the holiday hoops tournament continues to deliver.

“There will be a lot of quality basketball, potentially, in the Wasilla gym,” Engebretsen said of the sixth-annual event, which starts Monday afternoon at Wasilla High. “I’m really looking forward to it. Boys-wise, it’s really solid. Girls-wise, there’s a fun group of teams as well.”

Six boys teams and four girls teams are included in the field, for there days of round-robin basketball. Eight of the 10 programs are from Alaska, and two squads are from outside the state.

The Lake Stevens Vikings of Lake Stevens, Washington, are in the girls’ field. The Mesa Verde Mavericks of Citrus Heights, California, are in the boys’ field.

Thunder Mountain, Barrow and host Wasilla round out the girls’ field. Thunder Mountain, Service, Barrow, West Valley and Wasilla round out the boys’ field.

Half of the Alaska teams in the field advanced to the state tournament last year. Service is the defending 4A boys state champion. The Barrow girls placed third at the 3A level, and the West Valley boys placed fourth in the 4A bracket.

The tournament also features one of the most intriguing talents in Alaska. Kamaka Hepa, a 6-foot-7 freshman on the Barrow boys basketball squad, was named the best eighth-grader by an ESPN analyst during an invitation-only showcase for eight and ninth graders in Tennessee.

The tournament starts Monday at 12:45 p.m., and continues through Wednesday evening.

Tournament schedule:

Monday:

Thunder Mountain boys vs. West Valley, 12:45 p.m.; Lake Stevens girls vs. Thunder Mountain, 2:30 p.m.; Barrow girls vs. Wasilla, 6 p.m.; Service boys vs. Wasilla, 7:45 p.m.

Tuesday:

Barrow boys vs. Thunder Mountain, 12:45 p.m.; Barrow girls vs. Lake Stevens, 2:30 p.m.; West Valley boys vs. Service, 4:15 p.m.; Thunder Mountain girls vs. Wasilla, 6 p.m.; Mesa Verde boys vs. Wasilla, 7:45 p.m.

Wednesday:

Thunder Mountain girls vs. Barrow, 11:30 p.m.; Boys consolation game, 1:15 p.m.; Boys consolation game, 3 p.m.; Lake Stevens girls vs. Wasilla, 4:45 p.m.; Boys championship game, 6:30 p.m.