BATTLING THROUGH

PALMER — Palmer head coach Paul Reid admitted he was a bit nervous during the hours leading up to his team’s non-conference match with Service.

Just two days earlier, the Moose had lost senior captain Jaimi Cox to an apparent season-ending knee injury during a tough loss to crosstown rival Colony. The Moose were riding a three-game losing streak, and Service was sandwiched between tough Northern Lights Conference opponents such as Wasilla, Colony, Kenai and Soldotna on the Palmer schedule.

All factors created some early-season adversity for the Moose.

But on Thursday, Palmer responded.

The Moose rebounded to score a 53-41 win over the Cougars at Palmer High School.

“Hopefully I didn’t show it to my team, but I was a little nervous,” Reid said following the win. “It was definitely a good confidence builder to get a win under our belt. We dropped two region games in a row, so it was nice to get a win.”

Senior Shawna Thein scored a game-high 15 points in the victory. Sophomore Kasara Brandenburg, Cox’ replacement in the starting lineup, added 14.

“I think it’s really important,” Thein said of the win. “I really think we’re going to pull it together.”

Thein and Brandenburg combined to score all 16 of Palmer’s first-quarter points, and Thein contributed 13 of her 15 in the first half.

“Everybody’s role is a little bit redefined. I was wondering how everybody was going to respond to that,” Reid said.

While it looks like Brandenburg may inherit Cox’ position in the starting lineup, Reid said he is looking to Thein to establish herself as Palmer’s leader on the court. And Thein took a step forward after a tough first half during the 40-33 loss to Colony, Reid said.

“The second quarter of Tuesday’s game was rough, for me especially,” said Thein, who led all Palmer scorers with eight points during the loss. “I am so dependent on Jaimi being the point guard.”

The Moose will obviously miss Cox, a versatile senior who can play inside or out, but Palmer is already looking for younger players to step in.

Brandenburg scored half of Palmer’s points during the first quarter and added another six in the third.

“Kasara Brandenburg stepped up the very first game,” Thein said.

The Moose will also look to junior Kendal Venzke, who scored seven during the win over Service.

Service’s Jordynn Ramierez scored all of her team-high 14 points in the second half.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Palmer 53, Service 41

Thursday, Palmer High School

Service 9-7-12-13—41

Palmer 16-18-12-7—53

Service (41) — Barrus 2 4-6 8, Sumohat 1 0-0 2, LaClaire 2 3-3 7, Tidter

2 0-0 4, Boyce 0 2-2 2, Saturnine 0 0-1 0; Ferguson 1 0-0 2, Ramirez 7 0-0

14, Jeffords 0 2-3 2; Totals: 15 11-15 41.

Palmer (53) — Van Hoomissen 0 2-2 7, Venzke 3 1-4 7, LaMere 1 0-3 2,

Riggs 1 0-0 2, Thein 7 0-1 15, Koehn 3 0-0 7, Blake 1 0-0 2, Smith 1 0-0

2, Brandenburg 5 4-7 14, Neurnberg 0 0-1 0; Totals: 22 7-18 53.

3-point field goals: Service 0, Palmer 2 (Thein, Koehn 1); Total fouls:

Service 16, Palmer 16.