Underclassmen help Colony girls get past West Valley

ANCHORAGE — The Colony Knights rode their veteran seniors on another trip to the state tournament. Thursday, a pair of underclassmen helped ensure those seniors would have another opportunity to reach the title game.

Freshman Tori Schwantes and sophomore Abby Kenley combined to score Colony’s final eight points during a 47-41 win over the West Valley Wolfpack during the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Basketball Championships girls quarterfinals Thursday morning at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Schwantes used one of her four field goals in the game to tie the score at 39 with just about three minutes left to play and supplied the go-ahead basket at the 2:14 mark.

“Humungous,” Colony head coach Jeff Bowker said of the play of Schwantes late. “Really proud of her. She’s battled all season, has got better. She’s going to be a handful the next few years.”

Moments later Kenley attacked the basket to push Colony’s lead to four. The sophomore added a pair of free throws down the stretch to make it a two-possesion game.

“Abby played terrific,” Bowker said. “She’s one of the best players we have that no one knows about.”

Kenley led Colony with 11 points in the win.

Bowker said it’s good to see players in addition to the veteran leaders step up and find their role.

“Players that are contributing,” Bowker said. “Contribute what you can contribute. Everybody contributes a little differently.”

With the win, Colony moves forward and will play either top-seed Dimond of eighth-seeded West Anchorage in the state semifinals Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Colony, the Northern Lights Conference runner-up, entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed. Bowker said he had not been able to see fourth-seeded West Valley live this season, but knew the Wolfpack certainly have their strengths.

“I knew Ellen (Silva) was good. I was worried about her. I knew they were quick,” Bowker said.

Silva led West Valley with 11 points.

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

Colony 47, West Valley 41

4A girls quarterfinals

Thursday, Anchorage

Colony 11-14-11-11—47

West Valley 11-9-6—41

Colony (47) — A. Smith 3 0-0 8, Kenley 2 6-8 11, Bull 4 1-3 9, Schwantes 4 0-0 8, Carlton 4 0-0 9, E. Smith 1 0-0 2; Totals: 18 7-11 47.

West Valley (41) — Tate 4 1-3 10, Silva 3 5-10 11, May 1 0-0 3, Martellaro 2 2-3 7, Szmyd 1 0-0 2; Totals: 15 8-20 41.