Knights beat a Lower 48 team for the second straight night

For the second consecutive night the Colony Knights outplayed a Lower 48 elite en route to winning an Alaska Airlines Classic game at West High.

This time Colony closed the contest on a 9-1 run to upset the No. 1-ranked Texas team 57-47 and snap the Longhorns’ 16-game winning streak.

Colony became the first Alaska team since East Anchorage in 2015 to beat two Outside teams at this tournament as Colony charges into the Classic championship game for the first time. The Knights will face host West Anchorage Saturday at 7 p.m. at West High.

Sophomore Patrick McMahon scored 18 points, including a picture-perfect post move late in the fourth quarter that made the score 48-45 and proved to be the winning basket.

Colony’s Sullivan Menard netted 16 points, including a clutch 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter right after Laredo had taken its first lead of the night.

Colton Spencer scored 10 points, including a left-handed layup in traffic late in the fourth quarter.

And Jeremiah Hersrud added seven points and four assists, and took over during a third-quarter stretch when he had a hand in nine straight points.

It likely was Colony’s most impressive win this season, maybe even better than its 53-45 win last night over a 15-win St. Rita squad out of Chicago (IL). This was a 25-win Texas team with a ton of offensive weapons.

The Longhorns didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, making 12-of-38 3-pointers, there were parts of the game when it looked like they couldn’t miss.

Take the later stages of the third quarter when Alan Quiroga, Sammy Esparza, Carlos Guzman and Andy Pompa each drained 3s to help United get within 41-39.

Pompa (15 points) swished a 3 just before the third-quarter buzzer, right in front of his bench. After the shot he turned to his teammates and gave a lion's roar.

Pompa hit another 3 to start the fourth and give the Longhorns their only lead at 42-41.

Menard came right back with his own 3 to give Colony the lead back. For good this time.

Colony 57, United 47

Alaska Airlines Classic semifinals

Friday, Anchorage

Colony Knights 13 16 12 16 - 57

United Longhorns 4 14 21 8 – 47

Colony - McMahon 18, Dearborn 3, Menard 16, Spencer 10, McPhail 1, Escobedo 0, White 0, Hersrud 7, Baker 2.

United Longhorns - Esparza 9, Viro 0, Quiroga 6, Idrogo 11, Puerto 0, Pompa 15, Guzman 5, Fernandez 0, Garza 0, Hernandez 0, Olivares 1.