SUNNYSIDE 45, WASILLA 43

SS: 12-10-11-12: 45

WA: 12-3-23-5: 43

 

SS: Angelique Yanez 8 2-2: 18; Esabella Barajas 5 (2) 0-3: 12; Isela Rodriguez 2 2-4: 6; Dora Medina 2: 4; Anyssa Lerma 2: 4; Rayanna Ortiz 1-2: 1. TEAM: 19 (2) 5-11: 45.

WA: Katie Jackson 6 (1) 3-5: 16. Claire Bredberg 5 0-1: 10; Preslee Merchant 2 (1): 5; Mielee Merchant 5-6: 5; Kinley Lynch 1 (1): 3; Kyleigh Boling 2-2: 2; Savannah Kroon 1-2: 1; Mia Christensen 1-2: 1. TEAM: 14 (3) 12-18: 43.

 

 

Sunnyside battled Wasilla, Alaska for the Flowing Wells Shootout championship late Tuesday night, with the Blue Devils closing out the game on a 12-3 run to win the game 45-43 on a bucket from Esabella Barajas with 14.8 seconds left. Wasilla had two chances to tie or win the game down the stretch but a turnover and then missed bucket at the buzzer after the Blue Devils missed a couple of free throws held the Warriors back.

Sunnyside improved to 13-1 on the year and the Warriors are 5-2. Wasilla is coming off of a 25-3 record last year as part of three straight 4A championship appearances including a state title in 2024. The team lost guard Mylee Anderson to Alaska Anchorage where the freshman has started every game while averaging 12.5 points a game and top 70 prospect Layla Hays to Iowa. Hays (6-5) is averaging 7.1 points a game for the Hawkeyes and current senior Savannah Kroon has committed to Alaska Anchorage. Sunnyside qualified for the Open Division last year and the program made it to the 6A semifinal round on the strength of a 28-4 record.

The teams ended the first quarter tied 12-12 with Kinley Lynch hitting on a 3-pointer with 15.1 seconds left. Sunnyside took a 22-15 lead at the half but the Warriors stormed back to go up 38-33 after three with Katie Jackson pouring in 14 points to pace the Warriors.

Mielee Merchant put Wasilla up 40-33 with 7:01 left but a bucket from Angelique Yanez and a three from Esabella Barajas cut the lead down to 40-38 with 6:05 left. Jackson scored again with 4:31 left but the Blue Devils went on a 5-0 run to take a 43-42 lead with 2:32 left on a bucket from Yanez. Mia Christensen tied the game up 43-43 with a free throw with 2:11 left and it stayed that way until Barajas scored with 14.8 seconds left for the 45-43 final. 

Yanez scored a game-high 18 points and Barajas added 12. Jackson finished with 16 points and Claire Bredberg scored 10.

Sunnyside hosts Ironwood Ridge (6-1) on Jan. 6 and Wasilla travels to Palmer Colony (0-1) for two games on Jan. 9 and 10. Colony beat Wasilla 44-41 to win the 2025 Alaska 4A state championship.

Wasilla. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

America Cazares, Pueblo

Esabella Barajas, Sunnyside

Dora Medina, Sunnyside

Savannah Kroon, Wasilla

Asia Clark, Pueblo

Leila Whitaker, Flowing Wells

Allison Verdugo, Flowing Wells

Kylie Mansfield, Alchesay

Monica Verrett, Amphitheater

Gianna Kokoskie, Canyon del Oro

Mia Lopez, Cienega

Noelle Sunukjian, Pusch Ridge

Daphne Safo Rincon/UHS

Maya Rustand, Sabino

Jordynn Chavis, Sahuaro

 

FLOWING WELLS HOLIDAY SHOOTOUT

 

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29

Sunnyside 57, Cienega 25

Sunnyside 65, White River Alchesay 48

Wasilla (AK) 58, Amphitheater 34

Wasilla 67, Pusch Ridge 30

Flowing Wells 55, Sabino 41

Flowing Wells 50, Sahuaro 35

Pueblo 70, Rincon/UHS 39

Pueblo 55, Canyon del Oro 22

Buena 45, Palo Verde 14

Buena 43, Baboquivari 22

Alchesay 58, Cienega 52

Canyon del Oro 48, Rincon/UHS 42

Pusch Ridge 43, Amphitheater 25

Sahuaro 49, Sabino 33

Baboquivari 41, Palo Verde 21

 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

Cienega 57, Palo Verde 13

Sabino 36, Baboquivari 26

Amphitheater 46, Buena 22

Alchesay 58, Canyon del Oro 28

Cienega 69, Rincon/UHS 15

Sunnyside 53, Pueblo 30

Pusch Ridge 45, Sahuaro 44

Wasilla 69, Flowing Wells 34

Sabino 40, Palo Verde 19

Rincon/UHS 49, Buena 39

Amphitheater 49, Baboquivari 20

Alchesay 58, Pusch Ridge 42

Canyon del Oro 51, Sahuaro 48

 

THIRD PLACE

Flowing Wells 46, Pueblo 36

 

CHAMPIONSHIP

Sunnyside 45, Wasilla 43