Knights, Warriors move forward in 4A girls bracket

ANCHORAGE — Earlier this month, the Colony Knights walked off the floor after scoring only 18 points during a loss to rival Wasilla in the Northern Lights Conference title game.

Thursday, the Knights had a chance to know what it feels like to be on the opposite end of that scenario.

Colony held Lathrop to a mere 18 points during a 30-18 win over the Malemutes during the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Basketball Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Colony advanced to the semifinals with the victory, and will play either Dimond or Juneau-Douglas Friday at 3:45 p.m. Defending state champion Wasilla also moved forward Thursday, securing a 53-31 victory over Ketchikan in the girls’ quarterfinals. The Warriors will face either Chugiak or East Anchorage Friday at 5 p.m. in the semifinals.

Results of the Dimond-Juneau and Chugiak-East games were not available prior to press time.

Colony held Lathrop to just 25 percent shooting during the quarterfinal win over the Malemutes. Lathrop finished with only eight field goals, and was 1 for 6 from the free throw line.

After a tight first half, Colony broke the game open with a 10-2 third-quarter run. Lathrop managed only five total points during the second half.

Amanda Smith hit a pair of three-pointers and led Colony with 12 points. Ella Smith chipped in five. Amanda Smith also added a team-high six rebounds and three steals.

Colony entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed, and Lathrop, the Mid-Alaska Conference champion, was seeded sixth.

Wasilla took its first step in an attempt to repeat with the 53-31 win over Ketchikan. Mallory Wheeler led the top seed with 15 points on 7 of 8 shooting. McKenna Dinkel added 14 points, and Olivia Davies chipped in 10.

Cheyenne Green and Catherine Baham led Wasilla with eight rebounds each.

Wasilla held Ketchikan to only seven total field goals. Sixteen of Ketchikan’s 31 points came at the free throw line.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Colony 30, Lathrop 18

4A girls quarterfinals

Thursday, Alaska Airlines Center

Lathrop 9-4-2-3—18

Colony 4-13-10-3—30

Lathrop (18) — Jordan 1 1-2 3, Dibert 2 0-0 4, Kraska 1 0-0 2, Odsather 2 0-0 2, Do 2 0-0 5; Totals: 8 1-6 18.

Colony (30 ) — Duguid 1 0-0 3, Watson 2 0-2 4, A. Smith 5 0-0 12, Steiner 1 0-0 2, Carlton 1 1-7 4, E. Smith 2 1-2 5; Totals: 12 2-11 30.

3-point field goals: Lathrop 1 (Do 1), Colony 4 (A. Smith 2); Total fouls: Lathrop 15, Colony 9.

Wasilla 53, Ketchikan 31

4A girls quarterfinals

Thursday, Alaska Airlines Center

Ketchikan 6-6-9-10—31

Wasilla 13-12-14-14—53

Ketchikan (31) — Dela Cruz 4 1-1 9, Slick 1 2-2 5, Rose 0 1-2 1, Huffine 1 10-10 12, Welker 1 0-0 2, Simmons 0 2-2 2; Totals: 7 16-20 31.

Wasilla (53) — Davies 4 1-2 10, Baham 1 1-1 5, Kelly 1 0-1 3, Brandenburg 1 0-2 2, Wheeler 7 1-2 15, Dinkel 6 1-2 14, Green 2 0-2 4; Totals: 23 4-10 53.

3-point field goals: Ketchikan 1 (Slick 1), Wasilla 3 (3 tied with 1); Total fouls: Ketchikan 11, Wasilla 15.