VARSITY PROMISE

WASILLA — During the first three quarters Monday, first-year Colony head coach Tom Berg watched a collection of talent trying to adjust to new roles at the varsity level. During the fourth, Berg saw those same players having success at the varsity rank.

After trailing by as many as 20 points early, Colony rallied to score 29 fourth-quarter points. But North Pole held on to post a 64-57 win over the Knights during the first day of the Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic at Wasilla High School Monday afternoon.

“I think we have guys on this team who can make plays. I think we have guys on this team who are really good basketball players. For them, it’s just being in the game, (getting) the experience on the floor, being successful,” Berg said, who takes over a team that graduated five seniors from a squad that finished third in the 2009-10 4A state tournament. “Like anything you do, success breeds more success.”

Colony certainly found success in the fourth quarter. Colony entered the final frame trailing 34-28, but five different Knights scored at least four points during the final eight minutes to bring Colony as close as four.

Junior Tim Smith scored eight of his team-high 13 in the fourth. Senior Payton McCann and sophomore Hunter Eisenhower each scored six. Junior Jared Turner was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, and sophomore Nathan Umbarger added four during the final frame.

“I think we took a step in the right direction,” Berg said.

Colony used its pressure defense to create turnovers, which led to scores. Eisenhower scored four of his six fourth-quarter points directly off North Pole turnovers. Smith and McCann also hit shots that followed Colony steals.

“Hunter was good late,” Berg said. “Payton, he made some big shots for us tonight.”

McCann, who had a pair of three-pointers in the fourth, hit a shot from beyond the arc with 43 seconds left to cut North Pole’s lead to four points, its smallest of the game since the first moments of the first quarter.

North Pole was able to do enough in the fourth quarter to stay ahead. AJ Scott scored half of his 16 in the fourth and was 4-for-4 from the line down the stretch.

Jesse Ward paced the Patriots with 24 points. Ward and forward Kody Broderick (12 points) helped North Pole jump to a double-digit lead early in the game. The Patriots took their largest lead, 35-15, with a 5-0 run to start the second quarter.

Turner led the Knights with six rebounds and four steals in the game. Broderick collected a game-high nine rebounds for the Patriots.

Colony continues play in the three-day round-robin tournament at 8, tonight against Dimond. North Pole will face Banning (Calif.) at 1:20 p.m.

North Pole 64, Colony 57

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Monday, Wasilla High School

North Pole 16-14-14-20—64

Colony 6-9-13-29—57

North Pole (64): Scott 5 5-6 16, Hale 0 1-2 1, Sponseller 3 3-4 9, Mulcare 1 0- 2, Ward 8 8-8 24, Broderick 4 4-6 12; Totals: 21 21-28 64.

Colony (57): Niver 1 2-2 4, Smith 5 0-2 13, Turner 1 4-4 6, McCann 3 1-2 9, Enloe 1 0-0 2, Eisenhower 5 1-2 11, Pelitier 1 0-0 2, DePriest 1 0-2 2, Umbarger 3 2-2 8; Totals: 21 10-16 57.

Three-point field: North Pole 1 (Scott 1); Colony 5 (Smith 3).