Seniors help Knights get past Wasilla boys

PALMER — Colony may not always have to look to Jon Pomrenke and Parker Kizer as primary options on the offensive side. But the Knights certainly know Pomrenke and Kizer have the ability to be there when they need them.

Call it a luxury.

And the seniors came through for the Knights Tuesday night.

Pomrenke and Kizer combined for 19 points during a 58-46 win over Wasilla at Colony High School. Pomrenke and Kizer scored 10 of Colony’s 24 points during a key third-quarter run. Colony head coach Tom Berg said it was partly because of Wasilla’s play against some of Colony’s top scorers — such as Will Freeman, Sullivan Menard and Colton Spencer — but it’s also due to the seniors’ ability to step up in big situations.

“We were well scouted. (Wasilla) made sure to get a hand up in Will’s face, Sully’s face, Colton’s face,” Berg said after the win. “We talked about it a lot this week. Figure out what they give you. If they’re worried about our guards, those guys are going to have the opportunity to be successful. Hats off to those guys for taking advantage.”

Even though Pomrenke and Kizer may not hit double digits in the scorebook every night, Berg said they certainly have the ability.

“We trust those guys,” Berg said.

But with Colony’s depth, players such as Pomrenke and Kizer can take on additional roles. Berg said the play of Pomrenke and Kizer is also indicative of what type of depth Colony has this season.

“That’s what I love about our squad,” Berg said. “Lots of guys who come off the bench, you don’t have to worry about them. But our crew, they know who they are and know what they can do.”

Berg said it’s important to remember that Pomrenke and Kizer are both battle-tested seniors.

“It helps they’re in multiple sports. They’ve been through the wars in football, been through the wars in basketball,” Berg said.

After a rough second quarter for the Knights, Kizer and Pomrenke helped Colony regain the lead in the third. Midway through the third quarter, Kizer used a five-point run to pull the Knights ahead of the Warriors. Kizer grabbed a steal and went to basket to cut Wasilla’s lead to 32-31, and followed with a three-pointer to give the Knights the 34-32 advantage. After Aeron Milliron tied the game for the Warriors, Pomrenke used a steal and layup to put the Knights back up on top. Colony which used a Patrick McMahon three-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to push its lead to 10, never trailed again.

Team fouls on both sides piled up early, and that forced both coaching staffs to go to the bench and think differently, Berg said. Berg said both teams were able to weather-the-storm in the first half. Colony led early. Wasilla jumped on top with a 15-7 second-quarter run.

Late in the first half, Wasilla senior Reilly Devine went to the basket to tie the score at 19. Levi Houck hit three free throws during three trips to the line during the final two minutes of the half. Jordan Knight also hit a three-pointer to give the Warriors a five-point lead late in the half.

Will Freeman scored a game high 13 points in the win. Daniel Headdings also scored a game-high 13 in the Wasilla loss. Colony improved to 5-0 in Northern Lights Conference play with the victory. Wasilla dropped to 5-1.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Colony boys 58, Wasilla 46

Tuesday, Colony High School

Wasilla 11-15-11-9—46

Colony 16-7-24-11—58

Wasilla (46) — Knight 3 1-2 7, Houck 3 3-6 9, Headdings 3 7-7 13, R. Devine 2 3-6 7, Milliron 4 2-3 11, L. Devine 0 0-1 0; Totals: 15 16-25 46.

Colony (58) — Pomrenke 5 0-1 11, McMahon 2 1-4 6, Freeman 3 6-6 13, Menard 3 3-4 9, Spencer 1 2-4 4, Kizer 3 2-4 9, Hersrud 1 4-6 6; Totals: 18 18-30 58.