Defensive pressure sparks Knights

PALMER -- The short, and very quick, Palmer Moose girls' basketball squad has a reputation of using its speed on defense to their advantage, but it was the Colony Knights who used defensive pressure to seal a key Region III win.

The Knights forced numerous turnovers during crucial runs in the second and third quarters en route to a 56-35 win over the Moose at Palmer High School on Tuesday.

"We tried to pick up the pressure," Colony head coach Don Witzel said.

The stingy Knight defense created opportunities for the Colony offense as the Knights used an 8-2 run in the beginning of the second quarter, and a 5-0 run to start the third quarter to put a cushion between the two clubs.

"Palmer is very quick and plays intense defense. They forced us to pick up our game," Colony senior Kristina Klapperich said.

Klapperich, a 6-foot-1 guard, used her quickness and wingspan to force Palmer turnovers and create additional possessions for the Knights.

Klapperich sparked a Knight run to begin the second half, recording back-to-back steals and layups. The senior intercepted a Palmer pass at mid-court and drove to the hoop and followed with a theft of the ensuing inbound pass and scoring the easy bucket.

"Her quickness at the wing is one reason why we moved her out," Witzel said of Klapperich.

Siena Locke carried the Colony momentum, hitting a deep three-pointer to complete the 5-0 second half run.

The Knights continued and stretched to a 14-6 run during the first half of the third quarter. Locke hit her second trey of the frame to give CHS a 38-24 lead. Klapperich followed by intercepting another inbound pass after a Palmer team rebound, drew a foul and hit a pair of free throws from the charity stripe.

Palmer head coach Lyle Busbey acknowledged that the Knight runs in the second and third quarters were the key to the game.

"The way I look at it, seven minutes are where it was," Busbey said. "We didn't score for the first three and a half minutes of the second and first three minutes of the third. That is about 14 of the 21 points. Other than that we made them work for their buckets."

Klapperich scored a game-high 23 points and Locke added 13 for Colony. Witzel said the play of his bench were also key in the victory.

"Joanna Spoth gave us a little lift with a couple of quick baskets," Witzel said. "The subs changed the level of the game."

Spoth collected a pair of buckets after offensive rebounds during the Knights' run early in the second quarter.

Emily Bolling scored a team-high 19 points for the Moose. Palmer's offensive success came as the Moose guards fed Bolling with the ball as she cut toward the basket. The talented senior scored 10 of her points late in the third quarter.

Palmer got a scare late in the contest as Bolling fell to the ground after tangling up with a Colony opponent. What looked more serious to spectators, was just a leg cramp. Busbey said the injury was not serious, and Bolling sat for the final three minutes of regulation.