State hoops: Colony continues improbable run, scores spot in state title game

March 23, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - After Colony suffered a regular season loss to Wasilla early in the year, head coach Jeff Bowker told his players, that wasn't their night.

The night the Knights needed to be concerned with, Bowker said, is March 24, the date of the large-schools state championship game.

&#8220People don't believe me when I say this,” Bowker said Friday. &#8220We put one thing in our notebook. We put 8 p.m., March the 24th. That's our goal.”

With a 57-53 win over East Anchorage in the large-school semifinals on Friday, the Knights realized that goal, earning a shot to compete in the large-schools state championship game on March 24.

And speaking of Wasilla, the title game pits Colony with its Valley rival, setting up the first all-Valley state championship game in the history of the boys' large-schools state tournament.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday at the Sullivan Arena.

Just a day after knocking of the No. 2 team in the tourney, Colony continued it's improbable run by beating third-seeded East.

Bowker said regardless of who is put in front of them, his players believe they can win. And the underdog Knights continue to relish the idea of shocking the top seeds.

&#8220We were seventh coming in. Nobody thinks we can do it, and I love how we're proving them wrong,” senior forward Ryan Coffman said.

Junior Doug Gray scored a team-high 23 points in the win. He hit a pair of three-pointers early to help the Knights recover from an early 9-0 deficit. And Gray hit two more late in the fourth to help Colony sustain a lead for the first time in the contest.

&#8220Dougie did a terrific job,” Bowker said.

Gray, who hit the go-ahead three-pointer on Thursday in the 54-51 win over Juneau-Douglas, finished the contest shooting 7-of-12 from the field, and 5-of-8 from behind the arc. He was also a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

With four minutes left, Gray hit a long ball to give the Knights a 48-47 lead, and with 2:35 left, he hit another from the corner to give his squad the 51-50 advantage.

That shot marked the start of a 6-0 run that permanently pulled the momentum Colony's way.

On the offensive side of the court, Gray hit the big three-pointer, and fellow junior Grant Niver compiled a three-point play by posting a bucket, drawing a foul and hitting the free throw.

But on the defensive side, the Knights used their no frills, but lots of thrills approach to scramble for loose balls, and create extra possessions.

With less than a minute to play, Gray extended the Knights' lead to three points with an easy lay-in. After Coffman forced an East turnover, Niver - on the inbound pass - found a wide-open Gray streaking toward the basket.

Coffman iced the game with a free throw in the final seconds.

East started the game with a 9-0 run, and did not trail until the first possession of the third quarter.

But in typical Colony fashion, the Knights stuck around until the final leg of the contest and then sprinted ahead.

Many wondered how Colony would set a gameplan for a contest against an Thunderbird squad known for athleticism and ability to run teams off the court, just as many wondered how the small, but feisty Colony squad would gameplan for a contest against a very big Juneau team.

Against East, Colony faced a team with greater size and skill, but Bowker said, this is nothing new for the Knights.

&#8220For 15 straight games we've had the same gameplan,” Bowker said. &#8220Because they all look the same.”

Junior Jaron Murphy was named the player of the game following an outing where his play rivaled that of Mike Tyson more than Michael Jordan.

Murphy posted 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, but more importantly illustrated the toughness the Knights feel was central to their success in the first two rounds of the tournament.

Early in the game, the 5-foot-10 Murphy was absolutely walloped by 6-4 East center Seth Spencer. The hit near press row left Murphy dazed and bleeding. But after a brief break to allow trainers to cover a cut above his eye, Murphy was back in the game, wrestling for loose balls and forcing turnovers.

&#8220Jaron does what Jaron does,” Bowker said. &#8220He has one speed and it's all-out. He'll back down from nobody.”

Coffman said Murphy's mindset is usually found in athletes on the gridiron, not the basketball court.

&#8220He's got a football mentality,” Coffman said. &#8220Hit me, and I'm gonna come right back at ya. You're not going to hurt me.”

The Knights advanced to the state championship game for the third time in school history, and the second time in three years.

Bowker led Colony to the 2005 title game, a contest in which West Anchorage won it's second championship in a run of three straight state titles.

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