Big fourth quarter lifts Colony boys past Palmer

PALMER — As Palmer appeared ready to earn a key win on its home floor, it took only a few minutes for the Moose to see a lead suddenly turn into a double-digit deficit.

Colony used 40 points in the second half and a 22-7 fourth-quarter run to score a 62-45 win over the Moose at Palmer High School Saturday night.

“I felt like we were in control at least three quarters through the third (period),” Palmer head coach Brandon Blake said after the loss. “Colony did a nice job of changing things up in the fourth. We kind of unraveled.”

Palmer led 25-22 at halftime and held the advantage deep into the third quarter. Once Colony senior Antonio Bush posted a quick layup off an inbound pass to give the Knights the 39-38 lead, Colony never looked back.

Colony capped the third quarter with a nine-point run and used 22 fourth-quarter points to improve to 9-2 overall and 2-0 in Northern Lights Conference play.

“In the second half we were running our offense at our pace where we could get some rhythm,” Colony head coach Tom Berg said. “Once you get some rhythm, it’s just that much easier.”

Colony senior Damien Fulp scored 17 of his game-high 21 points in the second half. The UAA recruit had an 11-point run by himself early in the fourth. Fulp hit a three-pointer to push his team’s lead to eight points. He added a layup on the next possession and followed with a pair of free throws. With about 5:30 left in the fourth, Fulp hit a deep three-pointer, drew the foul and hit the free-throw to complete the rare four-point play.

“Damien, for him late, that’s when we want him to come through, and he did tonight,” Berg said.

Berg also pointed out the teamwork used to help create the shots.

“Damien Fulp certainly knocked down a couple of big shots. On that first one, it was our bigs getting the screen. They did a great job. The second one, it was a ball fake by Bailey (West) and a great screen by Graham Dinkel.”

West and Dinkel both added 15 points in the Colony win, and both were stellar at the free throw line. Dinkel was a perfect 9 for 9 at the line. West hit 8 of 11 free throws. The Knights finished 18 for 22 from the line. Colony was also 5 for 5 at the line when getting the bucket and drawing the foul.

As Colony got into its rhythm on offense, a defensive adjustment allowed the Knights to shut down the Moose. Palmer was held scoreless in the fourth quarter until Adam Ramoth hit a pair of free throws with 5:23 left in the game. Palmer’s first basket of the fourth, a Brady Southwick field goal, came with only 25 seconds left in regulation.

“Colony did a nice job, changing things up in the fourth,” Blake said. “Instead of having the mindset of attacking, working on what we worked on all week, we got back on our heels, turned the ball over, made bad decisions. We didn’t attack the zone. But credit to them.”

Palmer used a patient approach and timely buckets to take a lead in the first quarter. Ramoth, Southwick and James Nisbett each buried three-pointers in the first quarter to help Palmer build an advantage. Nisbett scored 10 of his 16 points in the first half. Ramoth keyed an early second-half run for the Moose, scoring 10 of his 18 points in the third quarter.

“I really felt like this group of kids, for three quarters, really executed as well as we could and kept ourselves in the game,” Blake said. “We’re disappointed how we responded to them changing things up defensively, but especially against a team like Colony, you really have to play focused for 32 minutes.”

Like Colony, Palmer also made frequent trips to the line. But it was Ramoth and Nisbett who made all but one free throw attempt. Ramoth was 8 for 10, and Nisbett was a perfect 10 for 10.

Palmer dropped to 3-8 overall and 1-3 in NLC play. Blake said he’s proud of the progress of his team, which features only two players who saw varsity action last season. He also said he hopes Palmer’s tough first-half of the season helps the Moose during the final two months of the year.

Palmer has lost two games in overtime, one to defending state champion East and another to NLC rival Soldotna. Half of Palmer’s losses have come to teams that played for a 3A or 4A state title last year.

Colony 62, Palmer 45

Saturday, Palmer High

Colony 10-12-18-22—62

Palmer 14-11-13-7—45

Colony (62) — West 3 8-11 15, Chamblee 2 4-4 8, Fulp 7 4-4 21, Dinkel 3 9-9 15, Bush 2 0-0 4; Totals: 18-22 62.

Palmer (45) — Ramoth 4 8-10 18, Southwick 2 0-0 5, Wells 2 0-0 5, Nisbett 2 10-10 16, Christiansen 0 0-1 1; Totals: 10 18-21 45.

3-point field goals: Colony 4 (Fulp 3), Palmer 6 (Ramoth, Nisbett 2).