Anchorage Christian School repeats as Alaska’s 4A girls basketball champion

If there was stress on the Anchorage Christian College women basketball staff in Saturday’s 4A championship recreation, the Lions didn’t really feel it.

ACS had cruised to the title in 2022, the staff’s first yr in 4A. Expectations loomed giant in 2023, however the Lions by no means wavered, topping Wasilla 57-38 on Saturday to take the Alaska 4A women basketball state title.

“Staying level-headed was the important thing,” ACS head coach Chad Dyson stated after his staff’s win on the Alaska Airways Heart.

Gatorade participant of the Yr Sayvia Sellers, who led the staff with 32 factors, stated the squad put within the work and the expectations took care of themselves.

“We’re simply excited,” Sellers stated. “That is what we’ve labored for all season … We have been feeling assured all season lengthy. I really feel like this staff works actually arduous so when moments like this come, we keep level-headed.”

With the win, ACS earned its sixth straight state title after taking 4 on the 3A stage earlier than shifting as much as 4A final season.

The primary quarter was shut with ACS taking a 15-14 lead into the second quarter. From there, the Lions began to tug away. Sellers scored 19 of her factors within the first half and the Lions led 30-21. It was the third time the 2 groups had confronted off this season, with Wasilla offering a aggressive recreation towards ACS every time.

However Sellers stated changing on the staff’s personal recreation plan was the Lions’ predominant focus.

“Simply play our recreation,” Sellers stated. “We’ve performed Wasilla a pair instances this season so we have been ready for them, however we simply wanted to play our recreation.”

[Short on experience but long on talent, Grace Christian girls win Alaska 3A state basketball title]

ACS didn’t draw back within the second half, however Wasilla couldn’t maintain the sport to inside single digits as the sport progressed.

Layla Hays scored 19 factors for Wasilla and teammate Mylee Anderson added 9. Wasilla will return practically its whole beginning lineup subsequent yr and ought to be a powerful contender to return to the championship recreation for a 3rd straight season.

“(Wasilla coach) Jeannie (Hebert-Truax) is such a terrific coach,” Dyson stated. “They’re a well-coached group of ladies and so they all the time come out to compete. It’s not a rivalry however our women get together with their women rather well. We take pleasure in competing with them.”

Nyamach Mathot had eight factors for ACS and Chloe Auble scored six. Sellers additionally added six rebounds and a game-high 5 steals.

Whereas Sellers has been a spotlight for a lot of spectators and opponents, the Lions nonetheless had depth and expertise all through their roster.

“I like my staff,” Sellers stated. “All of them work arduous and it’s straightforward to belief them with the ball.”

Dyson stated the staff has developed and succeeded with arduous work, excessive expectations and humility.

“Holding your self to a excessive customary,” Dyson stated. “Christ calls us to be glorious however not conceited, so we need to come out and characterize him effectively each on and off the courtroom.”

Women 4A state basketball match

Wednesday

First spherical

No. 2 Wasilla 60, No. 7 Lathrop 33

No. 5 West Anchorage 54, No. 4 Thunder Mountain 50

No. 3 Colony 53, No. 6 Juneau-Douglas 46

No. 1 Anchorage Christian 82, No. 8 Dimond 22

Friday

Comfort

Thunder Mountain 53, Dimond 47

Juneau-Douglas 51, Lathrop 42

Semifinals

Anchorage Christian 81, West 43

Wasilla 48, Colony 40

Saturday

4th/sixth place

Juneau-Douglas 53, Thunder Mountain 46

third/fifth place

Colony 64, West 34

Championship

Anchorage Christian 57, Wasilla 38

4A Women All-Match Workforce

Mylee Anderson, Wasilla; Morgan Maldonado, Anchorage Christian; Skylar Tuckwood, Juneau-Douglas; Tonya Karpow, West; Chloe Auble, Anchorage Christian; Hallie Clark, Colony; Sayvia Sellers, Anchorage Christian; Cailynn Baxter, Thunder Mountain; Layla Hays, Wasilla; Nyamach Mathot, Anchorage Christian.