Colony boys race past Soldotna; girls fall in 2OT

PALMER — After 10 straight days of practice, the Colony Knights couldn’t wait to hit the court and play someone wearing a different jersey. And it showed Friday night.

Fueled by a fast start, Colony cruised to a 46-26 Northern Lights Conference win over the Soldotna Stars at Colony High.

Before Friday night the Knights had not had an official game since Colony went 1-2 at the Alaska Prep Shootout at Dimond High in early January. Head coach Tom Berg said his players were antsy to get back into game mode, but the Knights improved during the break in the schedule.

“We got done with the tournament, everybody else was playing and we were just grinding. But we got better,” Berg said.

Colony stormed to an early lead hitting four three-pointers during a 16-point first quarter.

“We came out and played really, really well,” Berg said. “We shared the ball. Six of the first seven baskets were assisted.”

Senior Damien Fulp hit a pair of threes in the first quarter, and finished with a game-high 20. The UAA hit recruit buried five of Colony’s eight three-pointers in the game.

Berg said Fulp’s number pops on the scoresheet, but he loved how his team spread it around against the Stars.

Four players hit a three-pointers and eight different Knights found their way onto the scoresheet.

“Everybody was doing their job. If they were open, they were making shots. If not, pass until somebody is open,” Berg said.

Colony scored 32 points in the first half, and led by 19 at the break. The Knights led SoHi to four first-quarter points, and only single digits in each of the four quarters.

Daniel McElroy led SoHi with six points.

Colony improved to 8-2 overall and 1-0 in the Northern Lights Conference. Soldotna dropped to 7-5 overall, and 2-2 in the NLC.

Colony boys 46, Soldotna 26

Friday, Colony High

Soldotna 4-9-6-7—26

Colony 16-16-11-5—46

Soldotna (26) — Calloway 0 1-2 1, Young 2 0-1 4, Conradi 1 3-5 5, Furlong 1 0-0 3, Spence 1 3-3 5, McElroy 2 2-4 6, Trammell 1 0-0 2; Totals: 8 9-15 26.

Colony (46) — West 2 0-0 5, Chamblee 2 0-0 5, Fulp 7 1-2 20, Menard 1 0-0 3, Dinkel 3 0-0 6, Nygard 1 0-0 2, Sonnenberg 1 1-2 3, Bush 1 2-2 4; Totals: 18 4-6 46.

3-point field goals: Soldotna 1 (Furlong 1), Colony 8 (Fulp 5); Total fouls: Soldotna 7, Colony 18.

Stars edge Colony girls in 2OT

PALMER — As the Soldotna Stars established themselves as one of the top teams in Alaska, Colony remained sort of a mystery.

But Friday, Colony, playing in just its fourth game of the season against an in-state opponent, nearly knocked off one of Alaska’s three undefeated 4A girls basketball teams. Soldotna, the No. 2 ranked team in its class, used a late effort to edge Colony 56-53 in double-overtime at Colony High.

Katelynn Kerkvliet and Julie Litchfield each had baskets during Soldotna’s 7-4 run in the second overtime to help the Stars improve to 12-0 overall. Colony dropped to 2-5 overall, and 2-2 against Alaska competition.

SoHi also improved to 4-0 in the Northern Lights Conference. Friday’s game marked Colony’s NLC and home opener. Colony’s only prior games against Alaska teams this season were against Ketchikan and Service.

Soldotna led early taking a 25-13 advantage into halftime. Colony used a 21-12 run to jump back into the game. The Knights tied the game at 34 at the end of the third, and the teams were knotted at 43 at the end of regulation.

Faith Farris scored seven of her game-high 21 points in the third quarter to spark Colony’s rally. Izzy Tweed, Jennifer Solano and Sarah Bonn each chipped in seven points in the loss.

Kerkvliet also netted a game-best 21. Litchfield added 15 and Makayla Wong scored 12.

Kerkvliet scored eight of her team’s first 13 points and had 15 in the first half.

The Knights continue NLC play Saturday facing rival Palmer at 5:30 at PHS. Soldotna stays in the Valley to face Houston Saturday afternoon.

Soldotna 56, Colony 53 2OT

Friday, Colony High

Soldotna 13-12-9-9-6-7—56

Colony 7-6-21-9-6-4—53

Soldotna (56) — Benson 0 6-10 6, Litchfield 4 7-122 15, M. Wong 3 6-6 12, L. Wong 1 0-0 2, Kerkvliet 9 3-8 21; Totals: 17 22-36 56.

Colony (53) — Scott 1 0-0 2, Farris 8 4-6 21, Tweed 1 4-7 7, Stephens 1 0-0 2, Turcotte 3 0-1 6, Brumbaugh 0 1-5 1, Solano 3 1-2 7, Bonn 2 3-3 7; Totals: 19 13-24 53.

3-point field goals: Soldotna 0, Colony 2 (Farris, Tweed 1); Total fouls: Soldotna 20; Colony 23.