Valley teams compete in holiday hoops tourneys across country

WASILLA — Local prep basketball squads are spread across the country this week, from Ketchikan to Florida, competing in holiday tournaments. Many coaches and athletes are visiting a place for the very first time. Others are returning for a visit.

The Colony Knights boys’ basketball team is among the local schools returning to a familiar out-of-state tournament, and Colony head coach Tom Berg and assistant Jon Coon had the chance to lead the Knights against a familiar foe from the past.

Earlier this week, the Knights opened play in the Cactus Jam in Phoenix, Arizona, against Science Hill High School, a program from Johnson City, Tennessee, that Berg and Coon played against in the old Great Alaska Classic, during their Colony High playing careers.

But it wasn’t just a blast from the past for Berg and Coon. The Knights used a 55-48 win over the Hilltoppers Monday to start their run for the title game of the Cactus Jam’s Jam Bracket. The Knights scored a pair of wins in the tourney, beating Science Hill and Woodlake (California), before finishing as the runner-up of the bracket. Liberty High of Issaquah, Washington, beat Colony 68-42 in the final Wednesday afternoon.

“They’re a good team, a really good team,” Berg said of Liberty by cellphone Wednesday. “Science Hill was a really good game for us. Both of those teams would do really well in our state, our league. They were good matchups for us.”

Liberty used an early 18-7 run to help get past the Knights. Tyler Boyer led Colony with 14 points in the loss. Despite suffering an injury the day before, Anton Chamblee chipped in 11 for the Knights.

Alex Nygard scored a team-high 16 points to lead the Knights to the semifinal win over Woodlake. Parker Kizer added 14 points, and Jarrett Villastrigo added a dozen for Colony. Chamblee added eight points, draining two of Colony’s four three-pointers in the first quarter.

In the quarterfinals, Chamblee led the Knights with 14 points. Alex Nygard scored all eight of his points during Colony’s 22-point fourth. Chamblee added seven in the final quarter to help the Knights grab the victory.

Overall, Berg was pleased with his team’s play and competition during the three-day tournament.

“We found some good things, some things we need to work on going forward,” Berg said.

Berg has made the trip to the Cactus Jam with the Knights four times, three as a head coach and once as an assistant. Berg said there are a variety of reasons why he likes the tournament.

“It’s a nice place to be in December. That’s certainly part of it. There are a lot of things to do,” Berg said.

In addition to their three games, Berg said the Knights also had the chance to see an Arizona State men’s basketball game, and the NBA’s Phoenix Sun host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Palmer girls place third

The Palmer girls grabbed third place in the Clark Cochrane Classic with a 45-30 win over Oriville High School of California Wednesday evening in Ketchikan.

Palmer finished 1-2 overall in the tourney. The Moose opened with a 61-18 win over Craig Monday, and followed with a 65-57 loss to Petersburg in the semifinals.

Palmer also faced host Ketchikan in a nonconference game Sunday, falling 57-32.

Palmer boys reach consolation final

The Palmer boys advanced to the consolation final of the Santa Barbara Holiday Classic in Santa Barbara, California, with a win over 58-49 victory over the Pioneer Valley Panthers of Santa Maria, California, Wednesday evening.

The Moose opened its tournament with a 57-56 loss to Flintridge Prep of La Canada, California. Palmer’s Michael Kluting supplied a team-high 30 points in the loss. Payton Martin added 10 for the Moose.

Palmer rebounded Tuesday with a 64-45 victory over Costa Mesa (California).

The Moose face Roosevelt (California) Dec. 31 in the consolation final.

Colony girls grab wins in California

The Colony girls finished 2-1 during the Surf N’ Slam girls’ Slam Bracket in San Diego, California.

Colony opened with a 71-30 loss to Redmond (Washington) Monday, but bounced back to beat Battle Ground (Washington) 46-37 Tuesday and Winston Churchill of Calgary, Alberta, 41-32.

Wasilla girls earn wins in Florida

The Wasilla girls opened the KSA Holiday Girls Basketball Tournament in Florida with a pair of wins this week.

Monday, Wasilla beat Esperanza (California) 36-35, and followed with a 51-41 win over Barberton (Ohio). The Warriors continue play against Owasso (Oklahoma) Dec. 31 at noon Alaska time.

Wasilla boys beat Oregon team

Kobe Brown scored 23 points to lead the Warriors to a 64-49 win over Sherwood (Oregon) Tuesday, during the consolation semifinals of the Oregon Holiday Hoopfest at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon.

Daniel Headdings added 16 points for the Warriors.

Wasilla opened the tourney with a 66-56 loss to Bend (Oregon) in the first round.

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