After starting the season 13-0, the Soldotna girls have run into a bit of trouble recently.
After losing their first game of the year Thursday against Chugiak in overtime, the Stars were edged again on Friday, this time by the 3-time defending state champs Wasilla Warriors 35-32 at the Lady Lynx Prep Shootout tournament at Dimond High School in Anchorage.
Soldotna had beaten Wasilla in two matchups earlier in the season, but the third time proved to be the charm for the Warriors, outscoring Soldotna 11-4 in the first quarter and going into halftime with a seven-point advantage.
At one point early in the third quarter, SoHi’s deficit grew to 23-12, but the Stars began to slowly close the gap. SoHi outscored Wasilla 11-8 in the fourth quarter.
Soldotna senior Katelynn Kerkvliet scored a double-double, getting 15 points and 12 rebounds, but her teammates had more difficulty finding the basket. Senior Julie Litchfield added eight points.
The one advantage the Stars enjoyed over Wasilla was rebounding, grabbing 41 boards compared to 21 for Wasilla.
The loss dropped SoHi to a 13-2 overall season record, and the Stars will finish off their tournament with a 10:45 a.m. Saturday matchup with Thunder Mountain.
Kenai girls 36, Palmer 27
The Kardinals won for the second day in a row, toppling Palmer Friday at the Lady Lynx Prep Shootout tournament in Anchorage.
The victory puts Kenai Central into the championship game of the Maroon tournament bracket, set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday against the Colony Knights.
Kenai senior Justice English finished just shy of a double-double on Friday, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Carly Venzke and Leya DePriest each had 10 points for Palmer.
After a slow start offensively for both teams, Kenai built up a lead by outscoring the Moose 11-2 in the second quarter en route to a 16-5 by halftime.
At one point early in the third quarter, Kenai stretched its lead to 18-6, but the Moose began to creep back, outscoring the Kards 8-5 in the third.
Friday girls
Warriors 35, Stars 32
Wasilla 11 8 8 8 —35
Soldotna 4 8 9 11 —32
WASILLA (35) — Kelly 0 0-0 0, LaBuda 0 0-0 0, Heath 1 0-0 2, Baham 1 0-0 2, Toews 1 1-3 3, Hutchins 3 2-4 9, Dinkel 5 5-6 15, Edwards 2 0-0 4. Totals 13 8-13 35.
SOLDOTNA (32) — Benson 1 0-0 3, Shaw 0 0-0 0, Litchfield 2 4-4 8, L. Wong 0 0-0 0, Hendrick 1 0-0 2, Kerkvliet 7 1-4 15, Miller 2 0-0 4. Total 13 5-8 32.
3-point field goals — Wasilla 1 (Hutchins 1); Soldotna 1 (Benson 1).
Team fouls — Wasilla 9; Soldotna 15.
Kardinals 36, Moose 27
Kenai 5 11 5 15 —36
Palmer 3 2 8 14 —27
KENAI (36) — Ostrander 1 2-4 4, English 6 7-9 20, Drury 0 0-0 0, Creighton 2 0-0 4, Steinbeck 0 0-0 0, Barcus 1 0-0 2, Beck 1 4-6 6. Totals 11 13-19 36.
PALMER (27) — King 2 0-2 5, Venzke 2 6-9 10, K. DePriest 0 0-0 0, Bowman 0 0-0 0, Osiensky 0 0-0 0, Ledger 0 0-0 0, Smylie 0 0-0 0, Till 1 0-0 2, L. DePriest 4 2-5 10. Totals 9 8-16 27.
3-point field goals — Kenai 1 (English 1); Palmer 1 (King 1).
Team fouls — Kenai 15; Palmer 22.
