Twenty-four teams were in the field with three divisions, or brackets. The Mustangs played in the top bracket, after placing third in the second bracket two years ago.

“We should have won it all. There wasn’t a team there that we couldn’t have beaten at least among the three teams we played,” said junior Alexis Sayer Monday, back in the halls of Chugiak.

The Mustangs gave away the first game, losing 39-38, after leading by a dozen points at halftime.

Chugiak led 29-18 after the first 16 minutes, held by senior Lorrie Clifford, with nine, along seven from junior Emily Watzke. Clifford would finish with a team-high 14 points to earn Player of Game honors.

Head coach Tracy Adams said the Mustangs’ shooting touch went cold in the second half, as first-round opponent Lakeside (Calif.) outscored the Alaskan troupe 12-4 in the pivotal third quarter.

Chugiak had opportunities to win down the stretch but it didn’t, with the 39-38 heartbreaking loss sending the Mustangs into the consolation bracket.

Once in the loser’s bracket, Chugiak experienced some success with a 46-36 win over Sonoma Valley.

While the team may have not hit on all cylinders, at least two spark plugs were firing, with 20 points from Clifford, and 12 from fellow senior Liz Meddaugh.

Adams said that Meddaugh’s “double-double” with a dozen rebounds as well earned the team’s post player of the game status, at least in his book.

Hopes to march through the back bracket toward another third-place showing was ended abruptly with a 59-46 loss to Lodi (Calif.) Dec. 30.

During the first half, the team had a stretch of 2-for-19 shooting from the field.

“We couldn’t have thrown a rock into the ocean it was that bad,” said Adams.

Sayer and Watzke paced the team with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Adams said the team had an opportunity to visit the San Diego Zoo and to frequent the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool.

“It was 65 degrees outside and the girls were the only ones out at the pool they thought it was warm outside,” he said.

Adams was pleased with how they represented the community and state both on and off the court.

“These girls are a class act a wonderful group of young ladies,” he said.

The Mustangs will face local competition for this first time this season Tuesday, traveling to Dimond.

In addition, the Lady Mustangs are part of the eight-team field in the T-Bird Classic at East High, playing Soldotna, Colony and Juneau-Douglas.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, January 8, 2009.