Byrd, Kards soar past Moose into second round

PALMER — Kenai Central got 21 points from Nate Byrd to fly past the Palmer Moose Thursday night 57-52 in the final opening-round game of the Northern Lights Conference Chapionhip basketball tournament at Palmer High School.

Led by Byrd, the Kardinals outscored the Moose 33-26 in the second half to earn the win. T.J. Fullmer had 18 points to pace the Moose.

Kenai won despite getting out rebounded 34-24 by the Moose.

“That’s something we’ve struggled with all year long,” Kenai coach Jim Beeson said after the game.

Palmer battled back from a 17-11 first-quarter deficit to take a 26-24 lead on a buzzer-beating layup by Shaq Odom to end the second quarter.

But Byrd was too much for Palmer to handle, using a variety of inside moves and outside jumpers to give Kenai big baskets down the stretch.

“He creates a lot of mismatches,” Beeson said of Byrd, a 6-foot-2 senior.

Though Kenai led through much of the second half, the game wasn’t decided until the final seconds.

Fullmer pulled the Moose to within 55-52 with a deep three-pointer with less than 30 seconds left to play, but Byrd got loose inside on the Kardinals’ ensuing possession, scoring an easy layup to finish off the host Moose.

Kenai also got 14 points from Daniel Gutskey, including 12 in the second half, and eight from Nate Saltzgiver. Zach Beeson added seven points, Cory Toombs had five and Josh Lazaro added two.

Gabe Gatto and Bryce Jacobson each scored eight points for Palmer, while Odom had six, Jake Hillis had five points and seven boards, Justin Draughon had four points and Mitch Swetzof added three.

Kenai moves on to play Wasilla in tonight’s semifinals at 8:15 p.m., while the Moose will face Skyview at 1:15 p.m. in the consolation round at PHS.

KARDINALS 57, MOOSE 52

NLC Championships

Thursday, Palmer High School

Kenai 17 7 18 15 — 57

Palmer 11 15 13 13 — 52

KENAI (57) — Saltzgiver 4 0-0 8, Byrd 10 0-1 21, Toombs 2 1-2 5, Beeson 3 1-2 7, Lazaro 1 0-0 2, Gustkey 6 1-3 14. Totals: 26 2-8 57.

PALMER (52) — Draughon 2 0-0 4, Gatto 4 0-0 8, Fullmer 6 4-4 18, Hillis 2 1-2 5, Swetzof 1 1-2 3, Odom 3 0-0 6, Jacobson 3 2-2 8. Totals: 21 8-10 52.

Three-point field goals — Kenai 2 (Byrd, Gustkey), Palmer 2 (Fullmer 2). Total fouls — Kenai 12, Palmer 14. Fouled out — none.