Late run sends Colony girls to third straight title game

SOLDOTNA — Another Colony semifinal, another barn-burning Knights win.

Colony outscored Kenai Central 13-2 in the fourth quarter to key a tense 35-26 win in the semifinals of the Northern Lights Conference tournament Friday night at Skyview High in Soldotna. The victory advanced the Knights to the state tournament for the 16th time in 17 seasons.

Getting past Kenai was no small task. The Kardinals held a 24-22 lead heading into the fourth, but could only muster just two points in the fourth as the Knights hit 7-of-9 free throws to ice the game.

“That’s the thing with our team,” said Colony coach Tom Lincoln. “We’re not always great offensively, but we work very hard on defense.”

The key play of the fourth quarter came thanks to one of Colony’s youngest players. With the teams deadlocked at 24-24, freshman Mary Klapperich hauled in an errant Colony shot and went right back up, converting the lay-up and getting fouled in the process. Klapperich hit her ensuing free throw, and the Knights never looked back.

“That was definitely the turning point in the game,” said Kenai coach Stacia Rustad.

Lincoln praised Klapperich for showing uncommon grace under extreme pressure.

“We expect a lot out of Mary,” Lincoln said of Klapperich, one of two Knights with nine points in the game. “She plays under pretty good composure.”

Colony beat Kenai during the regular season, but Klapperich said the Knights knew they’d be in for a battle at the tournament.

“I’ve always heard that saying that everybody brings it at regions, and it’s true,” Klapperich said.

Sophomore guard Alyssa Hutchins also scored nine points for Colony.

Raquel Young scored nine points to lead the Kardinals and Lexi Beeson added seven.

The victory came on the heels of an overtime semifinal win by the Colony boys, and Klapperich said the excitement of Friday’s games was nearly too much to bear.

“This is literally incredible,” she exclaimed.

COLONY 35, KENAI 26

NLC semifinals

Friday, Skyview High School

Colony 11 7 4 13 – 35

Kenai 10 7 7 1 – 26

COLONY (35) – M. Klapperich 4 1-1 9, Hutchins 4 0-4 9, K. Klapperich 0 3-4 3, Trudeau 1 0-0 2, Brumbaugh 1 3-4 5, Bowker 0 3-4 3, Forstner 1 2-4 4. Totals – 11 12-21 35.

KENAI (26) – Hull 1 0-0 3, McGahan 0 2-3 2, L. Beeson 3 1-2 7, Flanagan 1 0-0 2, Wensley 1 1-2 3, Young 4 1-3 9. Totals – 10 5-10 26.

3-point field goals – Colony 1 (Hutchins), Kenai 1 (Hull). Fouled out – none. Total fouls – Colony 13, Kenai 17.