Fourth-quarter collapse ends season for Palmer

SOLDOTNA — It was an unfortunate fitting end to a frustrating season for the Palmer boys basketball team.

All year long, Palmer was hampered by an uncanny ability to fall apart in the final minutes. That trend continued in the opening round of the Northern Lights Conference Championships against Kenai, and through Saturday morning’s 61-44 consolation-round loss to Soldotna.

Tied at 41-41 heading into the fourth quarter, the Moose managed just a single field goal in the closing quarter and were outscored 20-3 down the stretch. The contest was eerily similar to that first-round loss to Kenai.

“That’s been the story of our season,” Palmer head coach Jason Marvel said after Kenai scored the 55-49 win over the Moose on Thursday. “We can’t finish.”

Soldotna senior guard Boomer Blossom exploded for 27 points on Saturday, including seven in the fourth. The SoHi sharpshooter hit three 3-pointers and went 7-of-8 from the free throw line. The Stars also got 16 points from senior forward D.J. Stilchen, who provided the game’s biggest highlight with a thunderous one-handed slam.

Palmer got 17 points from Kyle Titus, but 15 of those were scored in the first half and none came in the fourth. Junior forward Christian Odom added nine points, while junior forward Sean Niekamp added seven.

SOLDOTNA 61, PALMER 44

NLC consolation semifinals

Saturday, Skyview High School

Soldotna 14 13 14 20 – 61

Palmer 9 20 12 3 – 44

SOLDOTNA (61) – Story 0 2-3 2, Blossom 9 6-7 27, Jackson 0 2-2 2, Carver 2 5-6 9, Stilchen 8 0-1 16, Smithwick 1 0-2 3, Barnes 1 0-0 2. Totals – 21 15-21 61.

PALMER (44) – Fullmer 2 0-0 5, Titus 7 1-1 17, Buresh 2 0-0 4, Bohman 0 2-7 2, Niekamp 3 1-2 7, Odom 4 0-1 9. Totals – 18 4-11 44.

3-point field goals – Soldotna 4 (Blossom 3, Smithwick), Palmer 4 (Titus 2, Fullmer, Odom). Fouled out – none. Total fouls – Soldotna 15, Palmer 17.