WHS boys battle back after tough losses

WASILLA — Wasilla boys basketball coach Ryan Engebretsen knew his team would be tested immediately at the start of the 2014-15 season.

Wasilla faced both teams that played for a 4A state title last season in its first two games, and took the floor against a completely unfamiliar team from California in its third contest.

Wasilla’s early season tests included consecutive losses by three points or less. But the Warriors rebounded Wednesday afternoon with a 57-52 victory over West Valley during the final day of Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic at Wasilla High School.

Isaac Houck recorded a double-double, posting 17 points and 11 rebounds, to help Wasilla improve to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the sixth annual Roundball Classic. Alex Baham added 15 points and eight rebounds.

The win snapped a two-game skid. Wasilla opened its tournament with a 38-37 overtime loss to 4A defending state champion Service. Tuesday, the Warriors suffered a 51-48 loss to the Mesa Verde Mavericks, a team from Citrus Heights, California.

“It was a different look for us,” Engebretsen said Tuesday night about facing the unfamiliar squad from California. “They made shots we didn’t see them throw in (Monday).”

Mesa Verde, which was paced by Bret Lynch’s 25 points, knocked down a pair of three-pointers during the opening minutes of the game, and took a quick 10-2 lead.

“We came out flat and they knocked down shots,” Engebretsen said.

Wasilla used a 15-10 second-quarter run to take a halftime lead.

The Warriors relinquished their lead in the third quarter, and went through scoring droughts in both the third and fourth quarters, which allowed Mesa Verde to take control.

Wasilla’s Ryan Milleron buried a three-pointer to begin the fourth quarter. That shot cut Mesa Verde’s lead to 42-40. But the Warriors would go more than three minutes without another field goal.

Engebretsen said Wasilla’s 27 turnovers were the difference in the contest.

“We just got really undisciplined,” Engebretsen said. “We went through the motions for a couple of minutes, and let them back in. They got us playing on our heels, and we played on our heels the rest of the night.”

Engebretsen said the Warriors need to focus on taking care of the basketball.

“We can’t afford to turn the ball over six to eight times a quarter and expect to have continual progress, and get better,” Engebretsen said. “We can’t afford to give up 27 possessions were we don’t even get a shot.”

Baham posted a double-double in the loss, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

During the win over West Valley, Wasilla extended a three-point halftime lead with a 12-9 third quarter run. The Warriors shot 46 percent from the floor in the game, and out rebounded West Valley 40-24.

Wasilla girls fall

Ashley Young and Ava Tompkins combined for 40 of their team’s points to lead Thunder Mountain to a 51-45 win over Wasilla Tuesday evening.

Paced by Young and Topkins, Thunder Mountain used a 19-15 second-quarter run to take a seven-point halftime lead.

Wasilla did rally in the fourth quarter. Freshman Azlynn Brandenburg went to the basket to cut Thunder Mountain’s lead to 45-40. Wasilla’s Leya DePriest made it a one-possession game with a rebound and outback with 3:29 left in the game.

After the Falcons took a 47-42 lead, Brandenburg hit a long jumper from just inside the three-point line to bring the Warriors back within a possession. But that would be as close as Wasilla would get.

Thunder Mountain shot 64 percent in the first half and 55 percent in the game. Young led the Falcons, scoring 24 on 10 of 12 shooting. Tompkins added 16.

Brandenburg led Wasilla with 14 points in the game. Cassidy Edwards added eight for Wasilla and DePriest chipped in seven.

Wasilla also hosted Lake Stevens (Washington) Wednesday evening, but results were not available prior to the Frontiersman’s holiday press deadlines.

Wasilla 57, West Valley 52

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

West Valley 14-8-9-21--52

Wasilla 16-9-12-20--57

West Valley (52) — Peterson 4 0-0 10, Sudduth 1 0-0 2, Hornbuckle 9 9-15 31; Totals: 17 10-21 52.

Wasilla (57) — Milleron 2 0-2 5, Baham 6 0-0 15, Garnett 3 2-5 8, Houck 7 3-5 17, Devine 2 3-4 7, Brown 2 1-2 5; Totals: 22 9-18 57.

3-point field goals: West Valley 8 (Hornbuckle 4), Wasilla 4 (Baham 3); Total fouls: West Valley 20, Wasilla 20.

Mesa Verde (Calif.) boys 51, Wasilla 48

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Mesa Verde 13-10-19-9--51

Wasilla 9-15-13-11--48

Mesa Verde (51) — Y. Valuchik 1 3-4 5, Woods 1 0-0 2, Lynch 9 5-6 25, Burachek 4 0-1 11, Sidhu 3 1-2 8; Totals: 18 9-14 51.

Wasilla (48) — Burns 2 0-0 5, Milleron 4 0-0 11, Baham 4 0-0 11, Garnett 4 0-0 8, Houck 2 0-0 4, Devine 1 5-6 7, Brown 1 0-0 2; Totals: 18 5-6 48.

3-point field goals: Mesa Verde 6 (Burachek 3), Wasilla 7 (Milleron, Baham 3); Total fouls: Mesa Verde 9, Wasilla 19.

Thunder Mountain girls 51, Wasilla 45

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Tuesday, Wasilla High

Th. Mtn. 14-19-9-9--51

Wasilla 11-15-8-11--45

Th. Mtn (51) — Tompkins 8 0-3 16, Ekis 2 0-2 5, Tipou 2 0-0 6, Young 10 4-5 24; Totals: 22 4-10 51.

Wasilla (45) — Kelly 1 1-2 3, Heath 0 2-2 2, Baham 2 3-6 7, Brandenburg 7 0-0 14, Dinkel 2 0-0 4, Edwards 2 2-3 8, DePriest 3 1-3 7; Totals: 18 9-16 45.

3-point field goals: Th. Mtn. 3 (Tipou 2), Wasilla 0; Total fouls: Th. Mtn. 15, Wasilla 15.