Chugiak High School juniors Lindsay Murphy, left, and Lorrie Clifford go to the floor to contend for a loose ball gathered up by Colony High School junior Allie Grazulis during first half action of the Girls 4A State Championship game Saturday at the Sullivan Arena. The Knights defeated the Mustangs 49-45 in overtime to claim the state title. PHOTO BY DAN SHEPARD

The Mustangs, ranked first, came up short, 49-45, to second-ranked Colony High School in overtime play at the Sullivan Arena. The two squads had not played one another in the regular season.

Chugiak defeated Lathrop High School 48-33 March 20 and Wasilla High School 45-35 Friday to advance to the finals, while the Colony Knights had beaten first-round opponent Dimond High School and Palmer High School in the semifinals.

Mustang head coach Tracy Adams said his team had a great season, registering a 23-3 win-loss record overall.

Adams said senior Sarah Watzke provided a “Player of the Year” performance in the title game with 22 points, nearly half of the team's total points. Watzke provided the team's first six points of the game, including a length of the court drive, punctuated by a behind-the-back dribble and left-handed layup.

Adams said Watzke's inspired play was not unusual.

“That's what she's been doing all year. Setting up her play when we needed her most,” said Adams Sunday, playing the game over and over again in his mind while looking for what would have reversed the outcome to make the Mustangs the state champions.

“Of course I would have done some things differently,” he said. “Perhaps I would have applied a full-court press defense when we were ahead to have opened up the margin a little more. Or put in a third option for our side-out play at the end.”

One thing Adams could not have prepared for was the disparity of fouls called between Colony and Chugiak.

“They made 26 of 30 attempts, while we made six of eight,” Adams said.

“These types of games are just too big to be decided like that. The officials are not supposed to be a factor in the outcome, and they were,” said Adams, who was a high school basketball official for boys and girls varsity games for six years in seasons past.

PHOTO BY DAN SHEPARD Sarah Watzke goes up for two points during the state championships Saturday at the Sullivan Arena.

The most pivotal decision of the game favored Colony, when a timeout was called by the Knights when the ball was in the air heading to Chugiak's Watzke with 2.8 seconds remaining. Watzke gathered in the errant pass and deposited the winning shot in the basket, only to have the shoot waved off and the ball given back to Colony for a last possession during regulation.

Regulation play ended in a tie before Colony went on to outscore the Mustangs 11-7 in the extended session, with many of the points garnered at the free throw line.

“But it's been a great season with great kids. We even won the sportsmanship award,” Adams said.

Another title that eluded the Mustangs was the Team Academic Award, also won by Colony. Chugiak had won the title in the Cook Inlet Conference tournament two weeks earlier.

“These were two very talented, smart teams that met up for the state championship — and that's the way it should be,” said Adams.

While the Chugiak coach would have liked to have won the state championship, life will go on for him and his team, with half the players coming back next year.

But the next season's team will not include seniors Watzke, Dana Gunnarson, Lerissa Beer, Angie Weiss and Kate Schwenne. Other team members included juniors Lindsay Murphy, Liz Meddaugh and Lorrie Clifford and sophomores Lexi Sayer and Emily Watzke.

Adams said several of the top teams, Colony and Wasilla included, would be returning a large number of starters next year as well.

The coach reported that junior Clifford and senior Watzke were selected to the State All-Tournament team.

“I am so proud of all these ladies — it's been a special group. We do have high hopes for next year too,” he said.

Reach the reporter at news@alaskastar.com.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, March 27, 2008.