WHS senior enjoys big night in Barrow homecoming

BARROW — Amid all of the boos inside the raucous Barrow High gymnasium as the public address announcer called the Wasilla starting lineup, there was a breakthrough of cheers as one Warrior was announced.

Wasilla senior all-state forward Connor Devine, who lived with his family in Barrow for six years, drew applause when he was announced. And Devine made the most of his Barrow homecoming, scoring 33 points to help the Warriors beat the host Whalers 63-58 in overtime.

“Connor was huge,” Engebretsen said from Barrow by cellphone. “We found Connor on the block, found him from 15 foot. His jump hook was falling really well.”

Devine and fellow senior Braydon Kuiper, who added 18 points, helped the Warriors deny the hot-handed Whalers and earn a win in a gym full of spirited Barrow fans.

“This is probably the most intense environment we’ve ever been in,” Engebretsen said. “They packed the place, standing room only. You couldn’t have squeezed a 2-year-old in the crowd.”

As the game continued on, Engebretsen said it became louder and louder in the gym.

“This is by far the loudest place we’ve ever been in,” Engebretsen said. “It was pretty wild, pretty neat.”

The Devine- and Kuiper-led Warriors tried to silence the crowd, but the Whaler fans erupted when Eddie Benson nailed a three-pointer from the left wing corner before the buzzer to tie the score at 49 at the end of regulation.

“In the timeout between the fourth quarter and overtime, I literally had to shout at the top of my lungs. (The players) could hardly hear me and I was 2 feet in front of them,” Engebretsen said.

Barrow hit 11 three-pointers in the game, including a key shot in overtime, but Wasilla was able to overcome the hot-shooting Whalers. Kuiper scored 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Kuiper and Devine combined for all 14 of Wasilla’s points in overtime.

“Those two seniors were just willing themselves (to win),” Engebretsen said. “They’re two of the top 10 players in the state. Both had some senior desire.”

Kuiper hit a jump shot early in overtime to give the Warriors the 51-49 lead. After Collin Long hit a pair of free throws for Barrow and tied the score, Kuiper nailed a baseline jumper to give Wasilla the lead.

A Devine pull-up jumper pushed Wasilla’s lead to six points with 1:45 left in overtime, but Barrow put together a five-point run that included a Long three-pointer.

Devine helped seal the game with four points in the final 30 seconds.

Barrow, the No. 3 ranked team in the 3A class according to the latest Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches poll, took a 42-39 lead into the fourth quarter. But Kuiper and Devine kept Wasilla in the game. Kuiper scored six points in the fourth.

Kuiper and Devine combined for 51 of Wasilla’s 63 points. Freshman Dane Kuiper added seven.

Long led Barrow with 21 points.

Wasilla earned a 55-46 victory over Barrow on Saturday. Devine led the Warriors with 17 points. Senior Dillon Ferro added 13 and Braydon Kuiper chipped in nine.

In girls’ action, Wasilla beat Barrow, the defending 3A state champions 48-37 on Friday. Wasilla scored a 65-41 win on Saturday. Alyssa Hutchins led Wasilla with 21 points. Alexis Imoe added 15 for WHS.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him on twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.