Knights earn basketball wins over Kenai, Soldotna

PALMER — The Soldotna and Kenai boys’ basketball teams arrived in the Valley Thursday night with a combined 2-10 record in Northern Lights Conference play. But Colony head coach Tom Berg wasn’t fooled by each Peninsula squad’s 1-5 mark. And Berg knew his team would need to put forth the effort to grab home wins over the Stars and Kards.

A night after grinding out a 42-33 win over Soldotna, Colony scored a tough 58-47 victory over Kenai Central Friday night at Colony High School.

“Their region records don’t look great, but those are games every night,” Berg said after the win.

Berg’s squad used a 21-point second quarter to separate itself from a feisty Kenai that didn’t seem ready to go away.

“I think (Kenai head coach Ken) Felchle does a really good job. They’re always ready to play. You have to make sure you match their intensity, their effort,” Berg said of the Kards. “I thought we did that for the most part.”

Senior Isaiah Neuner helped provide some of the cushion for the Knights, scoring 11 of his game-high 19 in the second quarter.

“Isaiah has been good for us this year,” Berg said. “I think for Isaiah in that early part of the season, getting used to consistent varsity minutes was a big deal. He’s figuring out what he can and can’t do.”

Neuner hit a big three-pointer in the second and added four more field goals during the quarter. The effort helped Colony answer a Kenai run. Josh Jackman went to the basket early in the second to give Kenai its first lead of the game, a 13-12 advantage. Kalvin Daniels added a quick three for the Kards to extend the lead. Colony wasn’t able to create space on the scoreboard until Neuner sparked an eight-point Colony run late in the second quarter.

Nolan Martin added 15 points in the win, scoring 10 of Colony’s 25 in the second half. Sullivan Menard added a dozen to help Colony improve to 5-3 in NLC play.

Luke Beiser led Kenai with 16 points in the loss, and was 10 of 15 from the free throw line.

“We gave up too many free throws, but their big kid was good,” Berg said of Beiser.

Tristan Landry added 14 points, and helped the Kards recover from an early deficit. Colony started the game on a 9-0 run, but Landry hit a pair of three-pointers to help Kenai cap the first round with an 11-3 run.

Kenai is now 1-7 in NLC play heading into a game against Palmer Saturday afternoon at PHS.

Thursday, Colony spent a lot of time at the free throw line. And it proved to be the difference.

Getting more than half of its points from the stripe, Colony scored a 42-33 NLC win over the Soldotna.

Colony finished 23 of 26 from the free throw line. Menard was 10 of 14 from the free throw line. Martin was 5 for 8. Menard led the Knights with 14 points. Martin added 11.

Derek Evans scored 11 points to lead the Stars.

Colony girls top Stars, Kards

In the first quarter Friday, Kenai’s Abby Beck hit a pair of three-pointers to give the Kards an 8-2 lead.

And then it was all Colony.

The Knights held Kenai to a combined four field goals during the final three quarters, and Colony scored a 42-19 win over Kenai Friday night at Wasilla High.

Haylee Duguid, Amanda Smith and Alex Carlton scored eight points each to help Colony improve to 7-1 in NLC play. Beck led Kenai with a game-high 10.

Friday, Colony jumped to a 20-8 lead in the first quarter, and scored a 47-29 win over the Stars. Smith hit a pair of three-pointers, and scored 13 for the Knights. Carlton added 11.

Colony boys 58, Kenai 47

Friday, Colony High

Kenai 10-13-13-11—47

Colony 12-21-14-11—58

Kenai (47) — Daniels 3 0-0 8, Beeson 1 0-0 2, Beiser 3 10-15 16, Landry 5 1-2 14, Jackman 2 4-5 8; Totals: 14 15-22 58.

Colony (58) — Kizer 2 0-0 5, N. Pead 1 0-0 3, Neuner 7 1-2 19, Menard 3 5-5 12, Martin 7 0-0 15, Villastrigo 1 0-0 2, C. Pead 1 0-0 2; Totals: 22 6-7 58.

Colony girls 42, Kenai 19

Friday, Colony High

Kenai 8-3-2-6—19

Colony 8-11-12-11—42

Kenai (19) ¬— Miller 1 0-0 2, Creighton 0 3-7 3, Satethite 2 0-1 4, Beck 4 0-0 10; Totals: 7 3-8 19.

Colony (42) — Duguid 2 2-2 8, Watson 2 0-0 4, A. Smith 4 0-0 8, Clary 1 0-0 2, Bull 2 0-0 6, Carlton 3 1-2 8, E. Smith 2 0-0 4, Simpson 1 0-0 2; Totals: 17 3-4 42.

Colony boys 42, Soldotna 33

Thursday, Colony High School

Soldotna 5-12-5-11—33

Colony 9-9-8-16—42

Soldotna (33) — Spence 2 3-4 7 Sheridan 0 3-4 3, Tuisaula 2 1-2 5, Evans 3 5-10 11, McElroy 1 1-2 3, Michael 1 0-0 2; Totals: 9 13-22 33.

Colony (42) — N. Pead 0 1-2 1, Neuner 4 3-6 12, Menard 1 10-14 12, Spencer 0 1-2 1, Martin 3 5-8 11, Villastrigo 1 1-2 3, Oathout 0 2-2 2; Totals: 9 23-26 42.

3-point field goals: Colony 1 (Neuner 1), Soldotna 0; Total fouls: Soldotna 23, Colony 16.

Soldotna 8-9-2-10—29

Colony 20-12-6-9—47

Soldotna (29) — Miller 2 0-0 6, Blossom 2 0-0 6, A. Schmidt 2 4-4 8, Tuisaula 1 1-5 3, Kruse 1 0-0 2, D. Schmidt 2 0-0 4; Totals: 10 509 29.

Colony (47) — Duguid 3 0-0 2, A. Smith 5 1-1 13, Clary 1 0-1 2, Bull 2 1-2 6, Steiner 2 1-2 6, Carlton 3 0-0 7, E. Smith 3 0-0 6; Totals: 19 3-6 47.

3-point field goals: Soldotna 4 (Miller, Blossom 2), Colony 6 (A. Smith 2); Total fouls: Soldotna 13, Colony 5.