Prep girls basketball: Knights get 2nd win over Palmer in 3 days

PALMER — For the second time in about 72 hours, the Colony Knights found themselves across the court from a familiar foe — the Palmer Moose.

On Saturday, the Knights earned a 66-40 win over the Moose in the championship game of the Lady T-Bird Classic at East Anchorage High School.

While Saturday’s nonconference win over their Valley rival was nice, on Tuesday, Colony also won the one that counts.

The Knights used solid defense and a balanced scoring attack to slip by the Moose 44-36 in Northern Lights Conference action at Palmer High School.

While the Knights used dominant play in the paint in the win on Saturday — Colony held more than a 2-to-1 advantage in rebounding in the Lady T-Bird Classic title game — Colony earned the win with tough defense and just enough offense on Tuesday.

“We came out with kind of a similar game plan, but the focus was more on stopping them,” Colony head coach Don Witzel said. “We got our points in a little different fashion than we did on Saturday.”

Junior Allie Grazulis led the Knights with a game-high 14 points, and junior Tara Garrod added 12.

Garrod scored all 12 of her points in the first half, using quick moves to the basket to get all of her scores.

The quick and shifty guard drove the lane to the hoop, and was able to find open holes in the back of the Palmer defense.

“We work on the penetration, but she really looks there,” Witzel said of Garrod. “She knows her range as far as shooting. She knows she’s better off going for the lay-up.”

Garrod also was key on the defensive side of the floor, helping stop Palmer’s dangerous set of guards.

“That’s kind of her forte,” Witzel said. “That’s why she earns her playing time.”

Palmer, a team that can be deadly with the outside shot, was held to just two buckets from behind the arc. Senior Ashley Swetzof hit one three-pointer in the first quarter to help the Moose pull back into the game. And senior Katie Stratton hit another during Palmer’s 8-1 run in the third quarter.

Swetzof had a team-high 10 for Palmer, collecting nine of those points in the first half and seven in the first quarter.

“Swetzof had a great first quarter,” Witzel said. “She kept them in the ball game.”

Colony led 31-19 at the half, but the Moose won the battle in the third quarter with that 8-1 run by holding the Knights to just one third-quarter point.

Stratton hit the big three midway through the quarter, and added another bucket to pull the Moose within seven points.

Grazulis and Alex Coon combined for nine points in the fourth to help Colony preserve the win.

Colony 44, Palmer 36

Tuesday, Palmer High School

Colony (44) — Hamann 0 2-2 2, Garrod 5 2-2 12, Hotchkiss 0 3-3 3, Grazulis 5 3-4 14, Coon 4 1-3 9, Larson 2 0-0 4; Totals 16 11-15 44.

Palmer (36) — Swetzof 3 3-4 10, Stratton 2 0-0 5, Cox 2 3-5 7, Bolling 0 4-6 4, Tzou 1 0-0 2, Ratcliff 4 0-0 8; Totals: 12 10-15 36.

Three-point field goals: Colony 1 (Grazulis), Palmer 2 (Swetzof, Stratton); Total fouls: Colony 9, Palmer 17.