Colony boys, girls feature plenty of new faces on varsity squads

PALMER — The Colony High boys and girls basketball programs share a mantra this season.

Next player up.

Both programs are on the heels of a third-place finish in the 4A state tournament last season. But both teams hit the court this year after the offseason did a complete makeover of the varsity roster. Each squad returned only one player with significant experience at the varsity level.

That’s a lot of new faces for Colony Knights fans.

But for the boys’ in particular, head coach Tom Berg said many of his athletes may be new to spectators, but not the program.

“They aren’t the names everybody is used to. They’re kids who’ve worked hard, paid their dues. Now they’re going to get their opportunity this year. They’re new faces, but it’s still our program,” Berg said.

More importantly, Berg said, the unfamiliar faces are familiar with what’s expected from a Colony basketball player.

“These are guys who spent time in our program. These are guys who have spent time doing what we do,” Berg said. “We’re going to play a little bit differently because of our personnel. My first year we looked a lot different than the last three years.”

Regardless of turnover, Berg said the annual goal is for the program to be successful.

“It’s what makes Colony, Colony,” Berg said.

Berg, and Colony girls head coach Jeff Bowker, have always coached with the philosophy that the team spends the year working for the opportunity to play in the late game on two Saturday nights in March.

The evenings of the Northern Lights Conference and 4A state championship games.

“The goal doesn’t change,” Berg said recently.

It’s simply managing the pieces.

“As the players change, it’s my job to figure out the best way to use those pieces,” Berg said. “I think we’ve got some pieces. I’m excited about that.”

The centerpiece is senior Anton Chamblee, the lone returning player with significant experience, for Colony, at the varsity level. Chamblee scored 22 points during Colony’s Northern Lights Conference opener, a win over Kenai Jan. 8. Berg said Chamblee’s performance is an example of an athlete showing the experience of playing through battles before. Colony’s offseason included the graduation of three starters, and former CHS standout Bailey West’s move with his family to Texas. But it did produce the arrival of 6-foot-4 senior forward Tyler Boyer, a transfer from Bartlett.

Colony’s four-player senior class also includes first-year varsity starters Joshua James and Alex Nygard.

The Knights have regularly gone about four deep on the bench, with juniors Isaiah Neuner, Nolan Martin and Brandon Nicholson, and sophomores Parker Kizer and Jarrett Villastrigo also getting time on the floor.

Like, Berg’s boys, Bowker’s Colony girls squad is also embracing the next player up philosophy.

“These girls, they’re the next ones,” Bowker said. “They’ve got to learn how to play at this level, learn their roles.”

Like Chamblee for the boys, senior Chase Stephens is the lone experienced varsity player in the girls program.

Bowker said it’s been a big change for Stephens. Last year, Stephens was surrounded by four seniors in the starting lineup. She was a piece of the puzzle.

“Now everyone knows we have Chase,” Bowker said.

Bowker praised Stephens for her ability to, not only take on the bigger role on the court, but also her desire to lead the new players in the program.

“She’s done a terrific job helping acclimate the younger girls,” Bowker said.

Stephens is one of two seniors on the team, joined by guard Aries Peltier, and among five upperclassmen on the team. The Knights also have five sophomores on the varsity roster, and could have as many as four sophomores in the starting lineup on any night.

“They’re a very tight group. They have the desire to get better,” Bowker said. “They’re very competitive.”

The group includes point guard Alex Carlton, who was named a captain this season. Sophomores Haylee Duguid, Amanda Smith and Ella Smith have also started for the Knights this season.

Colony is off to a 2-0 start in Northern Lights Conference play. The Knights beat Kenai 46-32 on Friday and followed with a 50-19 win over Soldotna Saturday.

The Knights continue NLC play Tuesday at Palmer High School. The girls meet the Moose at 6 p.m., and the Colony boys face rival Palmer at 7:30 p.m.

** Editor’s note: This is the third piece of a series featuring local 3A and 4A basketball programs. For more on the Houston Hawks and Palmer Moose, see frontiersman.com/sports. For more on the Wasilla Warriors, see an upcoming edition of the Frontiersman.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.