Colony girls score another upset victory

During a four-day stretch, the Colony Knights faced the top two ranked 4A girls basketball teams in Alaska. And Colony beat them both.

Less than a week after edging top-ranked Wasilla 39-38, the Knights earned a 54-43 victory over second-ranked Mountain City Christian Friday evening at Colony High School.

The Knights led by only three at the break, but used a 32-point second half to secure the double-digit win.

Colony’s Tonya Karpow scored eight of her 18 points in the fourth quarter. Her teammate, Hallie Clark, led all scorers with 24 points.

Leyton Lockard used a big fourth quarter to lift the Colony boys to a 52-48 win over MCC. Lockard hit a pair of three-pointers and scored 13 of his 22 points during the final frame.

The rivals were tied at 23 at the half, and MCC took a 35-28 lead into the fourth. Malik Balmes drove to the net to tie the game at 39 with 5:30 left. Lockard went to the basket to give Colony a 44-43 lead, drew the foul and hit the ensuing free throw to make it a two-point game.

Late in the game, Nile Deland hit a big three-pointer for the Knights to break another tie, and Lockard used free throws down the stretch to keep the Knights on top.

Balmes and Eli Wentworth added 11 each to Lockard’s 22.

The Wasilla boys also scored an upset over the weekend, beating third-ranked West Valley 69-59.

The Wasilla girls ran past West Valley 88-10. Mielee Merchant hit six three-pointers and led Wasilla with 18 points. Layla Hays scored 12. Savannah Kroon and Mylee Anderson finished with 11 each.

The Warriors girls also beat East Anchorage 76-16. Hays led Wasilla with 15 points. Kinley Lynch finished with 13 and Merchant added 12.

Palmer swept the Kodiak boys in a two-game conference series at PHS, winning 78-58 and 67-51.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.