Word is out about Doc Larson Classic

WASILLA — The Doc Larson Roundball Classic may only be in its fourth year, but the annual holiday hoops tournament is quickly earning a national reputation.

The Doc Larson turned the corner last year when Alabama powerhouse G.W. Carver High School traveled to Wasilla and won the Doc Larson boys’ bracket, including a 50-44 come-from-behind win over the host Warriors. G.W. Carver would go on to win the class 6A Alabama state title.

Attracting Outside teams the caliber of G.W. Carver is putting the Doc Larson on the map, Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said.

“I’m sure it didn’t hurt,” he told Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz in a recent KMBQ radio interview. “I have got good feedback from the coaches who are participating this year. Every team that’s come up here … and has won our tournament, two of them have (gone on to play) in their state championship game and the other was in the final four.”

That reputation as being a quality tournament, along with offering what Engebretsen calls a “once-in-a-lifetime experience,” has attracted several quality teams for this year’s Roundball Classic, set for Dec. 27-29 at Wasilla High School.

The Xaverian High School boys’ team will make the trip. The Catholic school is 4-0 on the young season and is the alma mater of a pair of former NBA players, the most notable being Chris Mullin.

Mullin is a two-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA and spent most of this hall-of-fame career with the Golden State Warriors.

More recently, Xaverian was the high school home of Chris Taft, also a draft pick of the Golden State Warriors. His NBA career was cut short by back spasms, and Taft recently signed a contract to play professional ball in Finland.

A school with that type of résumé can only help the Doc Larson Roundball Classic, Engebretson said.

“I’m thrilled,” he said. “That’s Chris Mullin’s alma mater and they’re excited, too. They bring up a decent-sized roster as well.”

The trip to Alaska may also be a welcome getaway for a team that recently lived through the destruction of Hurricane Sandy, he said.

“A lot of them just dealt with Sandy there on the East Cost,” Engebretson said, “and three of four of them got displaced and had to find new homes. But they still found a way to be at tryouts.”

Joining Xaverian in the boys bracket is Seigel High School form Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Stars come into the Doc Larson with a 12-1 record so far this season.

“Seigel comes up here and has quite a history behind them,” Engebretsen said. “They’re bringing up 22 people that I’m meeting at the airport Christmas evening. They’re excited to be in Alaska.”

While a pair of top-quality teams will test the Wasilla boys, along with cross-Valley rival Colony boys, the two-time defending state champion Warrior girls will also have some Outside competition.

Century High School of Hillsboro, Ore., will join Wasilla, Chugiak and West Valley in the girls’ round-robin tournament. The Jaguars are 6-1 on the season.

Also filling out the six-team boys bracket is Chugiak and Bartlett. Overall, the 10 teams will play 15 games over the three days.

As the Doc Larson Roundball Classic moves forward, Engebretsen said he’s hopeful its reputation as a top-notch holiday tournament will grow. Putting tourney highlights on YouTube has also helped get the word out, he said.

“It encourages teams and shows them there’s quality basketball up here,” he said. “And playing against a team like Carver … definitely put Alaska on the map with other (top) teams.”

Contact reporter Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.

Doc Larson Roundball Classic

Dec. 27-29, Wasilla High School

Dec. 27

1 p.m. Chugiak vs. Xaverian boys

2:45 p.m. West Valley vs. Century girls

4:30 p.m. Seigel vs. Colony boys

6:15 p.m. Chugiak vs. Wasilla girls

8 p.m. Bartlett vs. Wasilla boys

Dec. 28

1 p.m. Bartlett vs. Seigel boys

2:45 p.m. Chugiak vs. West Valley girls

4:30 p.m. Colony vs. Chugiak boys

6:15 p.m. Century vs. Wasilla girls

8 p.m. Xaverian vs. Wasilla boys

Dec. 29

11:45 p.m. Chugiak vs. Bartlett boys

1:30 p.m. Century vs. Chugiak girls

3:15 p.m. Colony vs. Xaverian boys

5 p.m. West Valley vs. Wasilla girls

6:45 p.m. Seigel vs. Wasilla boys