Knight girls romp, boys roll over Skyview

SOLDOTNA — The Colony girls’ and boys’ basketball teams swept host Skyview on senior night Friday in Northern Lights Conference action. In the girls’ game, the Knights notched a 66-13 victory to move to 5-2 in the league and 16-4 overall. The Panthers fell to 2-4 and 3-15.

The Colony boys held off a third-quarter comeback to post a 68-45 victory and improve to 3-4 in the league. Skyview fell to 1-5 and 5-12.

The Skyview girls honored seniors Jaxon Hill, Caity Marang, Brittney Mercier, Jessica Saunders and Thit Bak before the game. The group got off to a good start when Marang hit a layup just 40 seconds into the game to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

The Knights quickly asserted control on the offensive and defensive ends, taking a 22-6 lead after the first quarter.

“Our big thing coming out here was intensity,” Colony head coach Tom Lincoln said. “We needed to play hard because you never look past any team in the region.”

Lincoln thought his team passed the intensity test, and it showed in Skyview’s turnover tally, which ended at 29.

“They are just so stinking tall,” Skyview head coach Eric Pomerleau said of Colony, which uses Mary Klapperich at the point of its trap defenses. “They have a 6-2 point defender. That makes it very difficult.”

Pomerleau said his squad is still not patient enough when attacking the press. Instead of taking the time to ball fake and bounce pass, Skyview often tried to pass over the top of the athletic Knights. That didn’t work.

The Skyview coach was happier with the way his team executed its zone defense.

“They did a good job attacking our zone,” Pomerleau said. “They were able to make shots. Our goal was to take away the inside.”

Lincoln also was happy with the way his squad played on offense.

“One thing I told them in the comments after the game is that they moved the ball so well,” the coach said. The Knights whipped the ball efficiently around the perimeter, with the rock seldom touching the floor, until they found an open shot.

That unselfish passing was reflected in the scoring column, where nine Colony players scored and three cracked double digits. Kaitlyn Klapperich led with 15, while Jerica Nelson and Saige Stefanski each had 13.

“When there’s not just one player that stands out for the game ball, that’s a good thing,” Lincoln said.

Pomerleau said his team kept up its effort even after the outcome had been decided. He gave credit to Marang for a solid start to the game before she was slowed by an injury.

Boys down Panthers

The Panthers were done in by a poor shooting night, finishing 13-of-49 from the field.

“I felt like we got good looks,” Skyview head coach Jesse Settlemyer said. “We did a good job with the offense. The shots just didn’t fall.”

Colony head coach Tom Berg said he thought his defense did a good job of making Skyview rush its shots just enough to cause misfires.

“I think the press didn’t necessarily give us turnovers, but the press did lead to quick shots,” Berg said.

The Panthers were 4-of-14 in the first quarter and 2-of-11 in the second quarter as the Knights opened up a 36-16 lead at the half. The Knights were 15-of-24 from the floor in the first 16 minutes.

“They’re a very good passing team, or they can break you down on the dribble,” Settlemyer said. “We didn’t have a good night defensively. We’ve got to do a better job.”

Hunter Eisenhower scored eight of his game-high 19 points in the second quarter to push his team to the comfortable lead. Berg said Eisenhower, the team’s leading scorer, is one of five sophomores that sees time for him.

“He showed why by hitting a few 3s,” Berg said. “He’s also has enough length to take the ball to the basket.”

In the third quarter, Skyview showed it can stay with a team like the Knights. The Panthers were 6-of-14 from the floor in that quarter and outscored Colony 17-12. At one point late in the third, the Panthers had the lead down to 12.

With the Panthers suddenly hitting shots, Berg said he told his team in a timeout to focus more on offense, not defense.

“They’d hit a couple of 3s to get back in the game,” Berg said. “That’s going to happen. They are varsity basketball players. We missed a few easy shots on offense, and that allowed them to cut the lead.”

Colony, which also received 15 from Kenyon DePriest, slammed the door in the fourth by outscoring the Panthers 20-12.

Colony girls 66, Skyview 13

Friday, Skyview High School

Colony 2-17-23-4—66

Skyview 6-3-4-0—13

COLONY (66) — M. Klapperich 2 0-0 4, Nelson 6 0-0 13, K. Klapperich 6 0-0 15, Wood 1 0-0 2, Timmons 0 0-0 0, Brumbaugh 4 0-0 8, Michaelson 0 0-0 0, Menard 2 0-0 4, Stefanski 6 1-1 13, Leigh 2 2-2 6, Forstner 0 1-2 1, Solano 0 0-0 0. Totals — 29 4-5 66.

SKYVIEW (13) — Halverson 0 0-2 0, Hauptman 0 0-0 0, Saunders 0 0-0 0, Marang 2 0-0 4, Alhers 0 0-0 0, Hill 3 0-0 6, Mercier 1 1-2 3, Self 0 0-0 0, Malatesta 0 0-0 0, Bak 0 0-0 0. Totals — 6 1-4 13.

3-point goals — Colony 4 (K. Klapperich 3, Nelson 1). Team fouls — Colony 9, Skyview 4. Fouled out — none.

Colony boys 66, Skyview 45

Friday, Skyview High School

Colony 20-16-12-20—68

Skyview 11-5-17-12—45

COLONY (66) — Niver 1 1-1 3, Smith 3 1-2 9, Turner 3 2-2 9, McCann 2 0-0 4, Campbell 0 0-1 0, Ehloe 1 1-2 3, Eisenhower 7 2-5 19, Peletier 1 2-2 4, Fulp 0 0-0 0, Michaelson 0 0-0 0, Depriest 7 1-2 15, Gray 0 0-0 0, Umberger 0 2-2 2. Totals — 25 12-19 66.

SKYVIEW (45) — Reynolds 0 0-0 0, McNamera 1 0-0 2, Symonds 2 6-8 10, White 5 3-4 15, Jones 2 1-3 7, Madrid 1 2-2 5, Penrod 0 2-2 2, McDonald 0 0-2 0, Diaz 2 0-2 4. Totals — 12 14-23 45.

3-point goals — Colony 6 (Eisenhower 3, Smith 2, Turner 1); Skyview 5 (White 2, Jones 2, Madrid 1). Team fouls — Colony 19, Skyview 15. Fouled out — none.

Colony boys 64, Homer 55

The Knights got past the Mariners 64-55 in Homer on Saturday thanks to Hunter Eisenhower’s 17 points. For the Mariners, Devon Kennelty scored a game-high 18. On Friday, Palmer defeated Homer 58-38.

Colony girls 69, Homer 18

The Knights buried the Mariners with a 21-point quarter at Homer on Saturday. Homer didn’t score more than six points any quarter.

Colony girls 69, Homer 18

Saturday, Homer High School

Colony 26-19-11-13—69

Homer 5-6-4-3—18

COLONY (69) — M. Klapperich 8 3-10 21, Nelson 5 0-0 11, K. Klapperich 3 0-0 7, Wood 2 0-0 4, Brumbaugh 1 2-2 4, Menard 2 0-0 4, Stefanski 2 0-0 4, Leigh 3 0-2 6, Forstner 3 0-2 6, Timmons 1 0-0 2. Totals — 30 5-16 69.

HOMER (18) — Oliver 0 2-4 2, Kettelle 2 0-0 4, Tutt 1 2-3 4, Needham 2 0-0 4, K. Edens 0 0-0 0, B. Edens 1 0-0 2, Hutt 0 0-0 0, Mastolier 1 0-0 2. Totals — 7 4-7 18.

3-point field goals — Colony 4 (M. Klapperich 2, Nelson, K. Klapperich); Homer none. Team fouls — Colony 9, Homer 10. Fouled out — none.

Colony boys 64, Homer 55

Saturday, Homer High School

Colony 16-12-24-11—64

Homer 14-17-10-14—55

COLONY (64) — Turner 6 0-0 15, McCann 5 2-2 12, Campbell 0 0-0 0, Enloe 1 1-1 3, Eisenhower 7 2-2 17, Pelitier 0 2-2 2, Michaelson 1 0-0 2, DePriest 4 1-1 9, Umbarger 2 0-0 4. Totals — 26 7-8 64.

HOMER (55) — Reutov 1 0-0 2, Johnson 3 0-1 7, Cotney 1 4-8 6, Reinert 0 0-0 0, Jester 4 0-0 10, Daugharty 4 1-1 10, Glosser 0 0-1 0, Wood 0 0-0 0, Kennelty 6 6-8 18, Moyer 1 0-0 2. Totals — 20 11-19 55.

3-point field goals — Colony 4 (Turner 3, Eisenhower); Homer 4 (Jester 2, Johnson, Daugharty). Team fouls — Colony 16, Homer 10. Fouled out — none.