Mustangs edge Knights for fourth

ANCHORAGE -- Three players scored in double digits to lead the Chugiak Mustangs past the Colony Knights, 53-45, in the fourth-place game of the 4A girls' state basketball tournament on Saturday.

Kelsey Griffen and Courtney Waters each scored 14 points and Griffen grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds in the contest. Brihtani Lassiter added 11 points for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs defeated Colony, depsite a 23-point effort from senior Kristina Klapperich. The four-year starter shot 50 percent from the field and grabbed eight rebounds in her final game as a Knight.

Chugiak used a 22-13 fourth-quarter fun and hit 19 free throws to help win the game.

"Chugiak made their free throws and we have a couple of turnovers," Colony head coach Don Witzel said, noting the difference between the two clubs in the fourth quarter.

The Mustangs hit five free-throws in the final minute of the game and Waters hit a pair of key layups, driving the lane, as time ran down in the game.

After trailing for much of the contest, Klapperich hit a three-pointer to give Colony a lead early in the third quarter. Until Chugiak went on an 8-0 run midway through the fourth quarter, the teams traded the lead back and forth and neither team held a lead of more than three points.

Dimond won its first state championship in 25 years with a 58-38 win over Juneau-Douglas.

Zee Zee Young led the Lynx with 18 points in the game.

Dimond defeated Colony 37-35 in the first round of the tournament.