VETERAN DEPTH: Colony girls, boys boast experience this season

PALMER — After back-to-back seasons with just a pair of 12th graders on the roster, the Colony Knights girls’ basketball squad boasts its biggest senior class since 2015, the last time the Knights posted a top-3 finish in the 4A state basketball tournament.

“Lots of familiar faces,” Colony head coach Jeff Bowker said of his team earlier this week.

The Knights have five seniors. Four — Alex Carlton, Amanda Smith, Ella Smith and Haylee Duguid — have played major roles since they were freshmen. A fifth, Lexi Novelli, will have a much-expanded role this year, Bowker said.

Bowker and his assistants have had the chance to see the majority of the seniors grow on the varsity floor.

“It’s really neat. They know what to expect from me. I know what to expect from them,” Bowker said of his seniors. “They’ve worked hard all of the time. I’m anxious to see how things play out this year.”

Bowker said he’s enjoyed watching them progress.

“They’ve grown as players. They’ve grown as people,” Bowker said.

Three of the five seniors earned All-Northern Lights Conference honors last season. Carlton and Amanda Smith were named to the first team, and Duguid to the second. Carlton was also named second-team all-state and Smith earned third-team honors.

Bowker is excited about his experienced seniors and his younger players who will be asked to play bigger roles, but the longtime prep basketball coach said the key is blending the veterans with the younger talent.

“Every group is different.” Bowker said. “It’s a new group.”

Colony graduated only two seniors — Paige Clary and Claire Steiner — but both played significant roles for the Knights, who placed second in the NLC and fifth in state. The Knights also lost guard Elaina Watson, who moved with her family to the Lower 48 after logging major minutes as a freshman.

This year, Bowker said the Knights are looking to juniors Kali Bull and Chloe Simpson to become major factors. The Knights also have a freshman, Tori Schwantes, who will contribute.

“It’s a different group, but our goals are always the same,” Bowker said.

Throughout his coaching career, Bowker has maintained a simple approach. He circles two dates on the calendar. The Saturday of the region tournament and the Saturday of the state tournament. The goal is to play in the late game each day.

The championship game.

Those dates are March 10 and March 24.

Colony boys head coach Tom Berg is another who has those dates circled on the calendar. And as the Knights work to return to the state tournament, after missing it last year, Berg and his assistants will have plenty to work with.

“I certainly like the group of guys we have,” Berg said recently. “We’re deeper than we’ve ever been, with the right mix of youth and experience.”

Colony opened the season with three straight victories and the team title of the Doc Larson Roundball Classic in late December. The run included a 59-49 victory in the championship game over host Wasilla, the defending NLC champion and last season’s 4A runner-up. Throughout the tournament, Berg dove deep into his bench. Ten players hit the court during the competitive championship game, with eight seeing double-digits in minutes.

“Nine, 10, 11 guys,” Berg said of his team’s depth. “I don’t see that really changing. I’m not playing guys because I want to play them. I’m playing guys because they deserve to play.”

In the last few years, Berg said Colony was more limited.

“More guys can contribute at the varsity level. It’s kind of exciting,” Berg said.

Berg said he also likes his blend of talent.

He has junior captain Sullivan Menard, who was named first-team All-NLC last season. There are seniors, such as, Parker Kizer, Jarrett Villastrigo and Jon Pomrenke, who will play key roles on both ends of the floor. There are sophomores, such as, Colton Spencer and Wyatt Baker, who will have bigger roles. Freshman Patrick McMahon and Jeremiah Hersrud stepped in and contributed immediately. The Knights also have a newcomer, senior Will Freeman, who made an immediate impact. Freeman, who moved to Alaska from Texas, scored 26 points during the win over Wasilla and was named MVP of the Doc Larson tourney.

The Knights are not just deep, Berg said, his players are versatile.

“We have a couple of people playing multiple positions,” Berg said. “We have really good depth, and the depth is really versatile.”

Berg said the Knights can potentially run lineups with two or three different point guards. There are players who can hit the floor at three different positions.

“We’re certainly still a work in progress, but we’re something (opponents) are going to have to prepare for,” Berg said.

*** Editor’s note: This is the first piece of a five-part series previewing the 2017-18 prep basketball seasons for Valley’s 3A and 4A programs. For more on the Palmer Moose, Wasilla Warriors, Redington Huskies and Houston Hawks, see upcoming editions of the Frontiersman and frontiersman.com/sports. Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.