Knights show glimpse of a bright future

ANCHORAGE — With a combined three seniors on two teams, the 4A third-place game could be a glimpse of what’s to come in Alaska girls’ basketball.

And if the game is any indication, the future looks pretty good for the Colony Knights.

Junior Mary Klapperich and sophomore Izzy Tweed each scored a game-high 12 points to lead Colony to a 47-28 win over Juneau-Douglas during the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Championships third-place game Saturday at Sullivan Arena in at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

The win caps a season in which Colony finished as the Northern Lights Conference runner-up and third in state despite featuring only three upperclassmen on the roster, and three players with significant varsity experience. The Knights started a minimum of three underclassman in every game this season, featured a freshman in the starting lineup throughout the year and didn’t hesitate to use a combination of four freshmen and sophomores on the floor at key times.

“We had girls playing in middle school this year, literally in middle school, playing in a middle school gym. This is a big step,” Klapperich said. “But next year, after having this year of experience under their belt, it’s going to be nice to show Colony’s ready to bring it.”

Klapperich said that coming into the season, the veterans felt pressure to carry the team. But that changed as the underclassmen continued to improve and contribute.

“It’s such a relief to know you can work with these players, get to the point where you can just dish to them and give them some of the pressure,” Klapperich said.

And that’s led to success for the Knights.

Tweed hit 4 of 6 shots from the floor, including 2 of 3 from behind the arc, en route to her 12-point day. Freshman Faith Farris, who stepped into the program and found an immediate spot in the starting lineup, added three field goals. Point guard Jerica Nelson, who was named first-team All-NLC as sophomore, also hit three shots and scored six points.

Colony rebounded from a tough loss to rival Wasilla in the semifinal.

“We woke up this morning and said we’re playing for third, we’re not playing for first, but someone’s got to win, and we want it to be us,” Klapperich said.

Colony held a slim 20-16 lead at the break, but was able to take control in the second half. Juneau’s only points of the third quarter came from the free-throw line, and the Bears didn’t get their first field goal of the second half until the 5:35 mark of the fourth quarter.

“These morning games are tough. I’m not sure if it was as good of defense as shots not falling,” Colony head coach Jeff Bowker said.

Juneau shot 18 percent in the game and finished with only eight field goals.

Colony shot 50 percent from the floor.

Senior Saige Stefanski capped her career with four points and four rebounds in the win. Senior Leroya Simmons also found the basket for the Knights.

“She’s played her best basketball over the last six games,” Bowker said of Stefanski. “Leroya, she’s one of the things that makes our chemistry real good.”

Colony is one of a number of state tournament teams expected to bring back the bulk of its squad. Juneau, which upset No. 2 seed Dimond in the quarterfinals, has only one senior on its roster. Soldotna, the NLC runner-up and tournament’s No. 4 seed, also returns only a senior. The teams that advanced to the state title game, Wasilla and West Valley, have a combined four seniors. Wasilla has three and West Valley has one.

“I bet you look at the state tournament next year, it looks just like this one,” Bowker said.

Colony 47,

Juneau-Douglas 28

4A girls third-place game

Saturday, Sullivan Arena

Juneau 9-7-2-10—28

Colony 10-10-12-15—47

Juneau (28) — Brakes 1 6-8 9, Fagerstrom 1 1-5 3, Gross 1 0-0 2, Fenumiai 2 7-9 11, Siddeek 1 0-0 3; Totals: 6 14-24 28.

Colony (47) — Klapperich 4 2-2 12, Farris 3 1-4 7, Tweed 4 2-2 12, Nelson 3 0-1 6, Simmons 1 0-0 2, Payne 1 0-0 2, Stefanski 2 0-1 4, Solano 1 0-0 2; Totals: 19 5-10 47.

Three-point goals: Colony 4 (Klapperich, Tweed 2), Juneau 2 (Siddeek, Brakes 1); Total fouls: Colony 16, Juneau 12.