Tough finish for Knights

ANCHORAGE — The Colony Knights had a tough end to a memorable 2010-11 season.

After a first-round win over Soldotna, the Northern Lights Champions suffered back-to-back losses to Juneau-Douglas and Dimond during the final two days of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Basketball Championships at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

Colony’s opponents each used strong starts to grab the wins over the Knights.

Friday, Juneau-Douglas raced to a 16-2 lead and held on for a 47-34 win over the Knights during the state semifinals.

The Bears opened with a 12-1 run and led 16-2 at the end of the first quarter. The Knights were held to just a pair of free throws in the first and didn’t get their first field goal until an Allison Leigh rebound and put-back with 5:02 left in the second.

Juneau also held Colony scoreless until after the midway point of the third quarter. Senior Kate Klapperich slashed to the basket at the 3:49 mark of the third to give the Knights their first points of the second half.

Sophomore Mary Klapperich led the Knights with 13 points, Kate Klapperich scored nine and Leigh added eight.

On Saturday, Dimond led 15-8 early and scored a 53-41 win over the Knights in the third-place game. Colony finished fifth in the tournament with the loss.

Kate Klapperich scored a team-high 16 in the loss. Pherrari Brumbaugh added 10.

Dimond 53, Colony 41

4A third-place game

Saturday, Sullivan Arena

Colony 8-10-10-13—41

Dimond 15-9-13-16—53

Dimond (53) – Jackson 1 1-2 3, Rogers 2 3-4 8, Engel 2 5-6 9, Winchester 1 0-0 2, Cole 0 2-3 2, Afoa 6 5-8 17, Anderson 3 0-0 8, Ramirez 2 2-2 6; Totals: 17 18-25.

Colony (41) – M. Klapperich 3 0-0 8, K. Klapperich 5 5-6 16, Brumbaugh 5 0-0 10, Leigh 3 1-2 7; Totals; 16 6-8 41.

Juneau-Douglas 47, Colony 34

4A state semifinals

Friday, Sullivan Arena

Juneau 16-12-10-9—47

Colony 2-13-5-14—34

Juneau (47) – Ostrom 5 1-4 14, K. Brakes 0 3-5 3, Tarver 2 3-4 7, Meyhrauch 0 1-2 1, Larson 5 3-3 13, Fenumiai 1 0-2 2, Swofford 3 1-2 7; Totals: 13 12-22 47.

Colony (35) – M. Klapperich 4 3-6 13, Nelson 0 1-2 1, K. Klapperich 3 1-5 9, Stefanski 1 0-0 2, Leigh 4-7 8, Forstner 0 1-1 1; Totals; 10 10-21 34.