Post leads Knights over West Valley

PALMER — It’s usually hard to call the post player the spark plug.

That’s usually a distinction given to the lightning quick guards or the sharp shooters on the perimeter.

But there’s no denying Alex Coon’s ability to spark her team.

“If she has a good game, we’re going to have a good game,” Colony head coach Don Witzel said after Coon scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Knights to a 69-49 nonconfernece win over the West Valley Wolfpack at Colony High School.

The junior post scored 13 of her 22 points in the first half, as Colony earned an early lead that they would never surrender.

It marked the second time in a week that Coon scored 20 or more. Coon scored a game-high 30 during a win over Ketchikan on the first day of the Lady T-Bird Classic at East Anchorage High School last week.

Coon also pulled down 16 rebounds in the win over Ketchikan, and in the win over West Valley, Coon used her play on the glass to boost the Knights offense. A dozen of her points came directly off offensive rebounds.

“She’s gotten very good at leading us in those offensive rebounds,” Witzel said.

Colony’s ability to rebound has certainly been a key for the Knights thus far in the season.

“It think it helps that we have three girls who are around 5-foot-9, 5-10 inside,” Coon said.

With Coon, there is also forward Kara Larson, who chipped in nine points against the Wolfpack. Plus there’s Allie Grazulis, another tall player, on the wing.

Grazulis scored 11 points in the win.

Coon’s 22 was complimented by a balanced scoring attack against West Valley.

Junior guard Maria Bowker also added 11 points, with three three-pointers in the second half.

Colony 69, West Valley 49

Friday, Colony High School

West Valley 10-18-5-16—49

Colony 19-17-19-14—49

West Valley (49) — K. Oates 3 1-4 8, Eastman 1 0-0 2, Mattson 5 4-6 14, Blackburn 2 5-5 9, A. Oates 0 1-2 1, Slater 1 0-0 2, Kakinya 6 0-0 12, Barton 0 1-4 1; Totals 18 12-21 49.

Colony (69) — Garrod 2 2-2 6, Hotchkiss 2 0-0 6, Ma. Bowker 4 0-0 11, Lund 1 0-0 2, Grazulis 5 0-0 11, Me. Bowker 1 0-1 2, Coon 9 4-5 22, Larson 4 1-1 9; Totals: 28 7-9 69.

Three-point field goals: West Valley 1 (K. Oates), Colony 6 (Ma. Bowker 3).