PALMER — The Colony Knights opened their Northern Lights Conference boys’ basketball season playing an unfamiliar role.
After losing 10 of their top 11 players from a 2014-15 program that won an NLC title last season, the Knights are the new kids on the block.
Visiting Kenai, stocked full of veterans, was the experienced team.
But the lone familiar face from that title-winning team came up big for Colony High.
Senior Anton Chamblee scored 22 points to help the Knights rally to a 63-56 victory over the Kardinals on Friday night at CHS.
The Knights needed Chamblee’s scoring and the all-around effort from the supporting cast to recover from Kenai’s hot start.
Fueled by an early Josh Jackman 3-pointer, the Kards jumped to a quick lead and controlled pace early.
“(Kenai head coach Ken Felchle) is a terrific coach, terrific guy. I knew he was going to have them ready,” Colony head coach Tom Berg said after the CHS victory. “He’s excited about this group. He should be. They’re long. They play hard. Ken’s groups always play hard.”
Chamblee scored a dozen points during Colony’s pivotal 21-point third quarter, including a pair of threes that helped swing the momentum Colony’s way. Senior Tyler Boyer, a transfer from Bartlett, added nine of his 18 points in the third.
Kenai used Taylor Landry’s 3-pointer late in the first half to take a 27-24 lead into the break, and added to that advantage early in the third quarter. With 2:01 left in the third, Chamblee hit his first 3-pointer of the quarter to give the Knights the 40-39 advantage. On Colony’s next possession, Boyer went to the basket to push Colony’s lead to three. Chamblee struck again with another 3-pointer late in the third to give the Knights a 45-39 lead at the end of the quarter.
Early in the fourth, Isaiah Noyner and Chamblee each hit 3-pointers, and Boyer completed a three-point play to suddenly give the Knights a double-digit advantage. Berg said, despite the offseason losses, Colony has continued its tradition of embracing the next man up philosophy.
“It’s what makes Colony, Colony,” Berg said. “These aren’t the names everybody is used to, but they’re kids in our program, kids who have worked hard, paid their dues. Now they’re going to get their opportunity this year. They’re new faces, but it’s still our program.”
Kenai, which hit 10 3-pointers in the game, continued to knock down big shots in the fourth quarter to stay in the game. Marshall Vest dropped in a 3-pointer with 3:15 left to cut Colony’s lead to single digits. At the 2:20 mark, Vest hit another 3-pointer to cut Colony’s advantage to 52-49. After Chamblee drained his third 3-pointer of the half, Jackman completed a three-point play late and Austin Brazell also hit a big 3-pointer to keep the Kards in it.
Noyner and Chamblee each hit late free throws to help preserve the game for Colony.
Colony led sparingly in the first half. After Jackman and Brazell combined for an early seven points, Colony took its first lead late in the first quarter with a Jarred Villostrigo free throw. After Colony tied the score at 16 in the second, Luke Beiser completed a three-point play to immediately give the lead right back to Kenai. And after Colony tied the game at 19, Garrett Fitt drained a 3-pointer to give the lead right back to Kenai.
Jackman led the Kards with 15 points in the loss. Fitt added 11 points, and Vest and Brazell scored 10 points each.
Colony girls 46, Kenai 32
Colony held Kenai to only four first-quarter points and never trailed en route to a 46-32 win over Kenai at Colony High School.
Chase Stephens scored 13 points to help Colony improve to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in NLC play. Alex Carlton added nine points for Colony, and Ella Smith chipped in eight.
Lara Creighton led Kenai (1-8) with a game-high 15.
Colony boys 63, Kenai 56
Friday, Colony High School
Kenai 12-15-12-17—56
Colony 10-14-21-18—63
Kenai (56) — Ta. Landry 1 1-2 4, Vest 3 1-3 10, Brazell 4 0-0 10, Tr. Landry 1 0-0 3, Jackman 5 4-6 15, Beiser 1 1-1 3, Fitt 4 1-2 11; Totals: 19 8-14 56.
(Colony) 63 — James 1 0-0 2, Nygard 1 1-3 3, Noyner 3 3-7 10, Chamblee 8 2-2 22, Kizer 2 0-0 5, Martin 0 0-1 0, Villostrigo 0 1-2 1, Nicholson 1 0-0 2, Boyer 7 3-7 18; 23 10-22 63.
3-point field goals: Colony 7 (Chamblee 4), Kenai 10 (Vest 3); Total fouls: Kenai 23, Colony 18
Colony girls 46, Kenai 32
Friday, Colony High School
Kenai 4-9-8-11—32
Colony 12-9-10-15—46
Kenai (32) — Holmes 1 0-0 2, Drury 1 4-6 6, Steinbeck 1 1-2 3, Creighton 5 5-6 15, Baker 1 0-0 2, Ky. Booth 0 1-2 1, Beck 0 3-4 3; Totals: 9 14-20 32.
Colony (46) — Duguid 1 1-2 4, A. Smith 2 2-2 7, Clary 1 1-2 3, Stephens 6 1-6 13, Steiner 1 0-0 2, Carlton 4 0-0 9, E. Smith 3 2-3 8; Totals: 18 7-15 46.
3-point field goals: Kenai 0, Colony 3 (Duguid, A. Smith, Carlton); Total fouls: Kenai 12, Colony 17
