Knights sail past Mariners

Colony girls follow usual script for win

February 5, 2006

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - The Colony High School girl's basketball team is used to a bumpy ride.

The pattern this season has been to jump to an early lead, then weather a shaky second or third quarter before coming back strong.

It was more of the same Friday night against the visiting Homer Mariners.

After starting fast, Colony faded in the second half, then dominated the final four minutes for a 62-47 victory against its Northern Lights Conference rival.

Colony (8-3, 4-1 league) charged out of the gates with a 10-foot jumper from Allie Grazulis, leaving the Mariners still anchored in the port.

Utilizing a full court press defense, crisp passing and a slow start from Homer, the Knights had built a 20-9 lead be the end of the first quarter. There was little slowing Colony in the second as the built their lead to 16 points at the half.

Homer began solving the Knight's press in the third, and Colony's grip on the game had loosened.

&#8220We lost our focus,” Colony senior forward Sarah Walsh said of the third period. &#8220I think we got a little comfortable because everything was working so well for us in the first half.”

Behind the play of forward Reba Temple, took control of the play in the paint, scoring 14 of her game-high 21 points during the second half run.

Homer closed the gap down to four, midway through the fourth.

Walsh, one of the Knights assigned to guard the six-foot sophomore from Homer, said they lost track of Temple during the third period allowing here to lead the comeback attempt.

&#8220We had keep her in check for most of the first half and then forgot about her,” Walsh explained. &#8220It didn't take long for us to figure out we had to defender. I gave up a few inches against her so it was a challenge defending her.

For Walsh and the Knights, it was time to get back to the basics.

Following a time-out, the Knights rededicated to playing defense and working for good shots, and eventually breezed past the Mariners.

&#8220We started passing the ball and playing defense. It's as simple as that,” Colony coach Don Witzel said. &#8220Our defense shut off, and they caught up. We had to pick it back up.”

The Knight's also become more patient on offense.

&#8220It may have looked like we were stalling and using up the clock, but that wasn't the plan,” Witzel said. &#8220We were just working for a good shot.”

Hayley Hotchkiss then hit a three pointer from deep in the corner which was all that was need to restart the Knight's offense.

Colony then shot their next eight free throws to ice the game.

Three Knights finished in double figures, including Hotchkiss who had 14, Grazulis with 12 and Kara Larson who recorded a team-high 16.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com

Colony 62, Homer 47

Homer 9 7 16 15 - 47

Colony 20 12 12 18 - 62

Homer (47) - Bornheimer 3 0-0 6; Creamer 1 0-0 2; Horazdorsky 6 1-2 15; Seikaniec 1 1-2 3; Temple 10 1-8 21. Total 21 3-12 47.

Colony (62) - Joynt 2 4-4 9; Hotchkiss 5 2-2 14; Christensen 2 3-4 8; Grazulis 5 2-2 12; Larson 8 0-1 16; Walsh 1 1-4 3. Totals 23 12-17 62.

Fouled out - None. Three Pointers - Horazdorsky (2), Joynt, Hotchkiss (2), Christensen.