Colony boys snap losing streak, improve in NLC standings

WASILLA — Tom Berg and the Colony Knights shy away from throwing out terms like “must-win” games. But after getting swept by Kodiak on their home floor last weekend, the Knights were certainly ready to return to the win column Tuesday night.

Colony snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 7-2 in Northern Lights Conference play with a 53-44 win over Wasilla at Wasilla High School.

“It was big to come back from those two big losses,” Colony senior Antonio Bush said.

Kodiak beat Colony 63-61 and 63-48 on consecutive nights to jump Colony in the NLC standings. But after Kodiak’s loss to Palmer Tuesday and Colony’s win, the gap between Kodiak (5-1) and Colony (7-2) narrowed at the top of the conference.

“We don’t usually talk about must wins. We do talk about making improvements, making strides,” Berg said. “I thought we were better shooting the basketball than we were last weekend. I thought we were better defensively than we were last weekend at times. We try not to say must win. We certainly want to play better, and you think if you play better, you’ll get a ‘W.’”

Senior Damien Fulp led the Knights with 22 points in the win. Graham Dinkel added 11. Fulp and Bailey West combined to score all 16 of Colony’s second-quarter points after the duo was held scoreless in the first quarter. Dinkel scored six of his 11 in the first quarter.

Tuesday marked Colony’s opportunity at a second chance to jump back into the battle at the top of the NLC standings after suffering the losses to Kodiak. But overall, it was Colony’s second-chance points that proved to be the difference in the game, Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said.

“I think we did a great job defensively in the half-court. We were really solid. We just got our butt kicked on the offensive glass,” Engebretsen said.

Colony outrebounded Wasilla 38-20 in the game and 16-5 on the offensive boards. Colony finished with 15 second-chance points, compared to Wasilla’s two. Engebretsen said the Wasilla coaches have preached the needed to minimize mistakes in certain areas. Tuesday, the mistakes came rebounding the basketball.

“That was the part we gave up tonight, and that was the part that ended up costing us,” Engebretsen said. “We gave up 15 second-chance points. You’re looking at a nine-point game, thinking if you give up half that, (it could be a different game). Not that you can take any credit away from them. They get after it and compete on the offensive glass.”

Cameron Brown led the Warriors with a game-best 25 points in the loss. Brown scored nine of his team’s 12 first-quarter points, and added 11 in the third quarter. Brown was 10 of 15 shooting, including 2 of 6 from behind the arc.

“Cameron was terrific tonight,” Berg said.

Cash McGregor added eight points for the Warriors, who dropped to 3-2 in NLC play. The Warriors still have three NLC home games, including a pair against Kodiak at the end of the regular season.

Colony boys 53, Wasilla 44

Tuesday, Wasilla High School

Colony 10-16-13-14—53

Wasilla 12-7-15-10—44

Colony (53) — West 2 4-4 9, Chamblee 1 1-2 4, Fulp 7 6-7 22, Dinkel 3 5-5 11, Sonnenberg 2 0-0 4, Bush 1 1-2 3; Totals: 16 17-20 53.

Wasilla (44) — Brown 10 3-5 25, Baham 1 2-2 5, McGregor 1 5-6 8, Houck 0 2-2 2, Burn 2 0-0 4; Totals: 14 12-16 44.

3-point field goals: Colony 4 (Fulp 2), Wasilla 4 (Brown 2); Total fouls: Colony 20, Wasilla 13.