Stingy D paces Knights

PALMER — Defensive pressure was Colony’s game plan from the opening tip-off. But in the second half, Colony head coach Tom Lincoln watched as his defense kicked into another gear.

Sparked by its defense, Colony opened the second half on a 14-0 run and held the Moose to only five points during the final two quarters during a 59-22 win over Palmer at Colony High School.

“We did feel like we needed to put that pressure on Palmer,” Colony head coach Tom Lincoln said. “That was the game plan from the beginning. We came out in that second half and were putting a lot of pressure on their guards.”

Sophomores Mary Klapperich and Allison Leigh combined for 10 points during Colony’s 22-point third, and the Knights defense held Palmer scoreless for the first five minutes of the quarter. Bridget Jensen used a jumper at the 3-minute mark to give Palmer its first points of the second half.

Colony also held Palmer scoreless for a large chunk of the first quarter. The Knights started the game on an 8-0 run, and Palmer didn’t see its first point until junior Kasara Brandenburg hit a free throw with 3:32 left in the period.

A Brandenburg layup at the 2:54 mark was Palmer’s first field goal. Brandenburg scored all seven of Palmer’s first-quarter points.

Senior Kate Klapperich led the Knights with a game-high 13 points. Leigh added 12.

“She definitely had some good touches and put the ball in the hole,” Lincoln said of the sophomore, who had a team-high five field goals and was among the top rebounders in the game. “She’s getting more and more confidence as she plays.”

Senior Kendal Venzke scored a team-high nine points for Palmer. Venzke scored all nine of her points during the second quarter.

Both teams are back on the floor tonight. Colony hosts Soldotna at 6 p.m., while the Moose face Kenai Central at PHS.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.

Colony 59, Palmer 22

Tuesday, Colony High School

Palmer 7-10-3-2—22

Colony 14-8-22-15—59

Palmer (22) — VanHoomissen 0 2-4 2, Venzke 4 1-3 9, Jensen 1 00 2, Whitfield 0 1-6 1, LaMere 3 2-4 8; Totals: 8 6-17 22.

Colony (59) — M. Klapperich 3 0-1 6, Nelson 2 3-4 7, K. Klapperich 4 5-10 13, Wood 1 0-0 2, Brumbaugh 3 2-3 8, Michaelson 0 1-2 1, Menard 0 1-2 1, Stefanski 2 3-4 7, Leigh 5 2-4 12, Forstner 1 0-0 2; Totals: 21 17-30 59.

Three-point field goals: Palmer 0, Colony 0; Total fouls: Palmer, 20, Colony 15; Fouled out: Palmer- LaMere, Koehn.