Third-period surges spark Knights

PALMER — Judging by Colony’s work during the third quarter during back-to-back Northern Lights Conference wins this week, one would think the Colony coaching staff combined to give one heck of a halftime pep talk.

But there’s no rousing Rockne-like speech. It’s just a trait of the Knights, assistant Lyle Busbey said after Colony used 23 third-quarter points to score a 47-32 win over the Soldotna Stars Friday at Colony High School.

“It was that way all summer,” Busbey said of the Knights, who scored 22 in the third quarter during a rout of Palmer earlier in the week. “In the summer tournaments, we’d not be really productive on offense, and all the sudden in the third quarter we’d just take off.”

In the third Friday, Colony certainly took off. The Knights used their relentless pressure to take a four-point halftime lead and turn it into an 18-point advantage by the fourth quarter. Busbey credited not just defense, but fitness to the success.

“Tonight and against Palmer, we put so much pressure on in the first half, the other teams are a little tired in the third,” Busbey said. “You could see it. Soldotna was tired in the third quarter.”

Sophomore Mary Klapperich scored 10 of her game-high 17 in the third quarter. The 6-footer, who has moved from the post to the wing this season, nailed a pair of three pointers during an early second-half Colony run.

“She’s been struggling a little with her shot, but this is her first time playing the wing. She’s still kind of adapting to playing with her face to the basket,” Busbey said. “The more she plays out there, the more she is comfortable.”

Senior Kate Klapperich also hit a three-pointer during the third and scored 10 points. Sophomore Allison Leigh, another 6-footer, posted eight of her nine points during the final two quarters.

Kaille Skjold scored 11 points for Soldotna. Becca Salathite added eight.

Soldotna did piece together 13 points in the fourth. The Stars got to the free-throw line four times during the final eight minutes, finishing 5-for-8.

Colony 47, Soldotna 35

Friday, Colony High School

Soldotna (32) — Benson 7, Litchfield 3, Skjold 11, Duke 4, Salathite 9,

Sholin 2.

Colony (47) — M. Klapperich 17, Nelson 2, K. Klapperich 10, Brumbaugh 2,

Menard 3, Stefanski 2, Leigh 9.