New talent bolsters boys

PALMER — Graduation hit the Colony basketball program hard last spring.

The Knights waved goodbye to seven seniors, a group who led Colony to a Northern Lights Conference title and a third-place finish in the 4A state tournament. The losses obviously left a few holes for head coach Jeff Bowker and his staff to fill. The Knights do return a solid set of upperclassmen, most of whom saw little action in the varsity lineup. Now the key, Bowker said, is the transition to the varsity game.

“It’s not that we’ve got that young of kids,” Bowker said. “They’re just young to the varsity experience.”

Four of Colony’s five starters either saw limited varsity action last season or are completely new to the Knights’ program.

“There’s a learning curve, that’s for sure,” Bowker said. “It’s just a learning process. It takes time.”

Colony’s lone returning starter is junior guard John Palmer. As a sophomore Palmer earned first-team All-Northern Lights Conference honors after helping lead the Knights to a perfect conference record and the NLC title.

Palmer’s been a varsity player throughout his entire career with the Knights, and Bowker said it’s almost hard to believe that Palmer is only a junior.

“It’s unreal how long he’s been around,” Bowker said. “He’s been doing this for a long time.”

Bowker said Palmer continues to improve.

“He’s never satisfied. He continues to work on his game,” Bowker said.

Palmer, one of the team’s captains, runs the offense on the floor for Colony at the point guard spot.

“Running the point is difficult and he does a terrific job,” Bowker said.

Another captain is senior Chris Scott, who was a member of Colony’s deep platoon of forwards last season. This year, Scott will take more responsibility as Colony’s primary inside presence.

“He hasn’t played a ton, but he knows what’s expected,” Bowker said.

Among the other upperclassmen who are transitioning from junior varsity players to varsity regulars are seniors Collin Murphy and Connor Larson, and junior Hayden Summers.

“Every game they’re getting a little better,” Bowker said.

Murphy, a multi-sport standout at CHS, is evolving into a key player for the Knights, especially on the defensive side of the court.

“He’s not very big,” Bowker said of the 5-foot-11 Murphy. “But he’s tough. He gets inside and bangs around.”

New to the Colony program are seniors Bryce Jacobson and Tim Gray.

Jacobson, a second-team All-NLC selection as a member of the Palmer Moose last season, is also making the transition to a new style of basketball.

“What we do here is a little different from what he’s been used to,” Bowker said. “He’s starting to figure out what we want.”

On Saturday, Jacobson scored a season-high 25 points during a win over Kodiak. The senior scored 24 points in the first half and finished the game 9-for-10 from the free throw line.

Gray, a small but shifty guard, has also cracked the starting lineup during his first season with the Knights. Gray played at Wasilla last season.

“He’s real smart and knows what to do,” said Bowker, who called Gray a “calming presence” on the floor.

Colony, seven games into the 2008-09 season, is 3-4 overall and 2-1 in NLC play. Colony started the season at the Service Tip-Off Tournament and finished 1-2 in the event.

In early January, the Knights followed an overtime loss to Eagle River with an NLC loss to Wasilla. Over the weekend, Colony scored a pair of conference wins with a two-game sweep at Kodiak.

Colony will continue NLC play tonight when the Knights host rival Palmer at 8:15 p.m.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

COLONY KNIGHTS

Head coach: Jeff Bowker

2007-08 finish: NLC Champion, Third in 4A state tourney; 21-4 overall, 10-0 in NLC.

Key returners: John Palmer, Jr. G;

Chris Scott, Sr., F; Collin Murphy, Sr. F.

Key newcomers: Bryce Jacobson, Sr., F;

Tim Gray, Sr., G.

Key losses: Jaron Murphy, F; Grant Niver, F; Doug Gray, G.