Come-from-behind effort keeps Knights winless

WASILLA — As Tom Berg entered his first season as head coach of the Colony Knights, the former longtime assistant expected some growing pains. Berg inherited a talented, but largely inexperienced, varsity team. During the three-day Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic, Berg saw both the talent and the inexperience.

“Certainly over the course of the tournament we saw what we were capable of in all phases of the game,” Berg said. “We just need to put the entire game together.”

The Banning Pilots, a team from Wilmington, Calif., used a come-from-behind effort to score a 63-59 win over the Knights Wednesday during the final day of the tournament to keep Colony winless in the event.

“We played really well for three quarters, but they got it going a little bit,” Berg said.

Banning’s Michael Alexander sparked the Pilots during the third quarter to lead the Banning comeback. Alexander hit five three-pointers and scored 27 points for the Pilots, who erased a double-digit deficit.

“He’s a good player, good shooter,” Berg said of Alexander. “He went on a couple of stretches in the first two games (of the tournament).”

Alexander’s shooting sparked a 21-point Banning third-quarter. Charles Jones also hit a pair of second-half three-pointers and Michael Montoya added a pair of long jumpers in the fourth quarter to help preserve Banning’s lead.

“Our inexperience hurt us a little bit, being able to stay mentally focused and get the stops we needed,” Berg said. “We didn’t lock in defensively like we had before.”

Hunter Eisenhower scored 20 points to lead the Knights.

“He’s obviously a guy we expect big things out of,” Berg said. “He’s certainly proving that he has the ability to play at a real high level.”

Eisenhower scored 12 first-half points to help the Knights grab an early lead. Eisenhower contributed six points during a 19-6 Colony run.

Forwards Kenyon DePriest and Nathan Umbarger also helped Colony grab the early advantage, combining for 14 first-half points. DePriest was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line during the first two quarters. The senior also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

On Tuesday, Dimond used its defense and balanced scoring to post a 46-35 win over the Knights. Five different Lynx scored during a 16-7 run in the second quarter, a key period of the game.

Dimond also held the Knights to 18 percent shooting.

Junior Ryden Hines led Dimond with 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Dylan Lauwers added nine.

Eiesenhower scored a game-high 11 and posted eight rebounds. Junior Jared Turner added seven points and five rebounds.

Colony also excelled on the defensive end, holding the Lynx to just 37 percent shooting and without a three-pointer.

“I’m happy with the way we defended,” Berg said. “We showed the ability to defend at a really high level.”

Next week, the Knights will compete in another holiday tourney. Colony will compete in the Cactus Jam in Scottsdale, Ariz.

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

Banning (Calif.) 63, Colony 59

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Wednesday, Wasilla High School

Banning 9-16-21-17—63

Colony 19-16-14-10—59

Banning (63): O. Reyes 4 7-11 15, Alexander 7 8-12 27, Jones 3 0-0 8, Perla 2 1-5 5, Montoya 4 0-1 8; Totals: 20 16-29 63.

Colony (59): Niver 3 4-6 10, Smith 0 1-2 1, McCann 6 0-0 12, Eisenhower 9 0-0 20, Michaelson 1 0-0 2, DePriest 1 4-6 6, Umbarger 4 0-1 8; Totals: 24 9-15 59.

Three-point field goals: Banning 7 (Alexander 5), Colony 2 (Eisenhower 2); Total fouls: Banning 14, Colony 20.

Dimond 46, Colony 35

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Tuesday, Wasilla High School

Dimond 6-16-14-10—46

Colony 7-7-10-11—35

Dimond (46): Lauwers 4 1-4 9, Lasher 2 1-2 5, Hurst 2 3-3 7, Jack-Nixon 1 4-5 6, Carter 0 1-2 1, Adams 3 0-0 6, Hines 3 4-8 10, Osbore 1 0-0 2; Totals: 16 14-24 46.

Colony (35): Smith 1 1-2 4, Turner 1-2 7, McCann 2 0-0 4, Eisenhower 3 2-2 11, DePriest 1 1-4 3, Umbarger 1 4-4 6; Totals: 10 9-14 35.

Three-point field goals: Dimond 0, Colony 6 (Eisenhower 3); Total fouls: Dimond 18, Colony 21.