Colony boys, girls use big 4th quarters to sweep Moose

PALMER — For three quarters, the Colony Knights and Palmer Moose were simply looking for a little separation. Neither team led by more than three possessions. And neither rival appeared ready to run away with it until Colony was able to put together a defensive stand in the fourth quarter.

The Knights allowed only four fourth-quarter points and walked away with a 56-43 win over Palmer Friday night at Palmer High School.

“We executed down the stretch and were able to get a couple easy ones,” Colony head coach Tom Berg said after the win.

The Knights, who improved to 6-3 in Northern Lights Conference play, capped the game on a 19-4 run, and didn’t allow a Palmer field goal after Moose standout Clayton Southwick tipped in a put-back with six minutes left in regulation to tie the game at 41. Colony outscored Palmer 15-2 during the final six minutes.

“It’s hard for either team to try to make that up,” Berg said of answering a big run. “That’s really not how either one of us is built.”

Berg said of both the Knights and the Moose in a close game, “you run your stuff and do your thing.”

But getting that separation is key. And forcing turnovers was key for Colony Friday night. Especially forcing turnovers before Palmer was able to set up its offense.

“If we let teams walk the ball up the court, we’re going to lose 47-41,” Berg said. “We have to get extra possessions. We have to try to put you in position to speed you up a little bit.”

And in key stretches, that’s exactly what Colony did.

Late in the third quarter, after Palmer senior Payton Martin hit a three-pointer to give the Moose a seven-point led, Colony freshman forced a pair of turnovers near midcourt that led to layups by Nolan Martin and Isaiah Neuner. A seven-point Palmer lead was down to three.

“In spurts we did a good job,” Berg said.

After Southwick tied the score at 41 for the Moose, Nolan Martin hit a three-pointer for the Knights to give Colony the 44-41 lead. Colony wouldn’t trail again.

Neuner led Colony with a game-high 20 points.

“Isaiah was real efficient tonight,” Berg said of the senior, who shot 6 of 7 from the field.

Neuner was also 7 of 8 from the free throw line. Martin added 12, Sullivan Menard scored 10 and Nick Pead chipped in seven.

Those guards accounted for 49 of Colony’s 56 points. Colony was also 15 of 20 from the free throw line.

“It’s really been our strength all year,” Berg said. “Guard play, and the ability to get to the line.”

Southwick led the Moose with 17 points in the loss. The junior scored seven in the first quarter, to help Palmer take a 16-14 first-quarter lead. Payton Martin added nine in the loss.

Palmer held a 25-21 lead at halftime. Palmer senior Colyn Halbert hit a 40-footer at the buzzer to give the Moose the four-point halftime lead.

With the win, Colony locked up a top-3 seed in the NLC Championships, which start Thursday in Kodiak. Colony (6-3) can lock up the No. 2 seed with a win over Wasilla Saturday night at Colony High. Kodiak finished the season 6-4 in NLC play. The Bears hold the tiebreaker over Colony, and will be the No. 2 seed with a Wasilla win over Colony Saturday.

Wasilla (9-0) has locked up the No. 1 seed.

Palmer finished the regular-season 5-5 in NLC play, and will be the No. 4 seed, and will play either Kenai or Soldotna in the first round.

Colony girls get by Palmer

Colony used big runs early and late to score a 57-45 win over rival Palmer Friday night at Palmer High School.

Colony, which started the game on a 10-0 run, improved to 9-0 in NLC play.

Colony used another 10-point run to answer Palmer’s first lead in the game. Palmer senior Emma Uschmann tied the score at 30 with a layup, drew a foul and hit the ensuing free throw to give Palmer the 31-30 lead. Colony answered with five points in the final 30 seconds of the third, and outscored Palmer 22-14 in the fourth.

Alex Carlton led Colony with 16 points in the win. Haylee Duguid scored all of her 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Abriana Busbey led Palmer with a game-high 17.

Palmer dropped to 3-7 with the loss, and will be the No. 5 seed in the NLC tourney, which starts Thursday in Kodiak.

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

Colony boys 56, Palmer 43

Friday, Palmer High

Colony 14-7-16-19—56

Palmer 16-9-14-4—43

Colony (56) — Kizer 2 1-2 5, N. Pead 2 3-4 7, Neuner 6 7-8 20, Sullivan 4 2-3 10, Martin 4 1-3 12, Villastrigo 1 0-0 2; Totals: 19 15-20 56.

Palmer (43) — Osiensky 1 0-0 3, Martin 2 4-4 9, Hawkins 1 2-2 4, Southwick 7 2-2 17, Halbert 2 0-0 6, Eiman 2 0-0 4; Totals: 15 8-9 43.

3-point field goals: Colony 3 (3 tied with 1), Palmer 5 (Halbert 2); Total fouls: Colony 15, Palmer 17.

Colony girls 57, Palmer 45

Friday, Palmer High

Colony 20-8-8-22—57

Palmer 10-10-11-14—45

Colony (57) — Duguid 2 5-6 11, Watson 0 3-6 3, A. Smith 3 0-0 8, Clary 0 2-4 2, Bull 0 5-6 5, Steiner 2 0-0 4, Carlton 3 9-11 16, E. Smith 3 0-0 6; Totals: 13 24-33 57.

Palmer (45) — Pettingill 1 1-2 3, Busbey 5 6-11 17, Bowman 1 0-2 2, Suaava 4 4-8 14, Uschmann 3 2-5 9; Totals: 14 13-26 45.