Fueled by fast start, Knights storm into 4A title game

ANCHORAGE — Despite posting a 22-2 mark during the regular season, the Colony Knights endured their fair share of slow starts — their latest coming with a 12-point first half during the a win over Kodiak in the first round of the 4A state tournament.

But the Knights certainly didn’t have to worry about a slow start on Friday.

Colony enjoyed an early 13-point run, scored 29 points in the first quarter and stormed to a 65-42 win over the Wasilla Warriors during the semifinal round of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Basketball Championships at the Sullivan Arena on Friday.

“We’ve had a habit for some reason to come out slow in the first quarter,” Colony senior Kara Larson said. “Our focus was to start with as much intensity as possible.”

And that’s exactly what the Knights did, as the defending state champions rolled to their second straight trip to the state title game and eighth appearance in 15 years.

The Knights quickly led 11-4 and scored more points by the three-minute mark than they did during the first 16 minutes of play against Kodiak. Once Colony took a 14-4 lead with one of Allie Grazulis’ two three-pointers in the first half, the Knights led by double digits for the remainder of the game

“Our girls came out ready to play,” Colony head coach Don Witzel said. “We were running the ball, we were pushing the ball. They just came out and played hard, and played well.”

Witzel credited the play of Colony senior Alex Coon with the fast start on the offensive end of the floor. The UAA-bound Coon scored eight of her team-high 14 points in the first half.

Larson scored 12 for Colony, and Grazulis and sophomore Kaitlyn Klapperich added 10 each for the Knights.

Colony led by as much as 20 late in the first quarter, but Wasilla — led by senior Jenna Johnson — was able to take at least a hunk out of that advantage.

Johnson, who scored a game-high 27 in the loss, went on a nine-point run by herself midway through the first half. Johnson capped the first quarter with a pair of free throws, and started the second with seven straight points.

Johnson completed a three-point play to cut Colony’s lead to 29-16, but the Warriors were never able to break the hold on Colony’s double-digit lead.

Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said the Knights’ veteran presence was the key to the game.

“The experience definitely won tonight,” Hebert-Truax said, referring to a Colony squad that boasts eight seniors who helped CHS win the 2007-08 state title. “At every starting position there’s a senior, and the first three back-ups are seniors. These are kids who have all been here three or four times.”

Meanwhile, Hebert-Truax leads a squad with just one senior, Johnson, and a boatload of underclassmen. Looking at the positive, Hebert-Truax said the experience playing the defending state champions on Alaska’s biggest stage — the Sullivan Arena hardwood during the state tournament — will benefit the program in the future.

“I’ve got five sophomores getting experience,” Hebert-Truax said.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Colony 64, Wasilla 45

ASAA 4A state semifinals

Friday, Sullivan Arena

Colony 29-8-15-12—64

Wasilla 9-16-10-10—45

Colony (64) — Hamann 2 2-2 6, Klapperich 2 5-7 10, Ma. Bowker 1 2-2 4, Grazulis 4 0-1 10, Me. Bowker 0 3-4 3, Coon 3 8-8 14, Eisenhower 1 0-0 2, Larson 6 0-2 12, Forstner 0 3-4 3; Totals: 19 23-30 64.

Wasilla (45) — Frizzelle 1 0-0 2, Nuss 0 1-2 1, Naczi 2 0-0 5, Brown 1 0-0 3, Johnson 8 10-12 27, Troisi 1 1-2 3, Cottle 2 0-2 4; Totals: 15 12-18 45.

Three-point field goals: Colony 3 (Grazulis 2), Wasilla 3 (Naczi, Brown, Johnson 1); Rebounding: Colony 25 (Coon 5), Wasilla 19 (Johnson, Troisi, Cottle 4); Total fouls: Colony 18, Wasilla 21; Fouled out: Colony- Garrod, Wasilla- Troisi.