Kenai come-from-behind effort edges Palmer girls

PALMER — The Kenai Kardinals beat the Palmer Moose 33-31 Friday night in a game the Kardinals fought from behind until taking the lead with two minutes remaining.

The predominant theme of the game was defense as Kenai guards Carolyn Keifer and Allie McGahan denied easy ball movement for the Moose.

Palmer countered with its own smothering defense. What differed in Palmer’s defensive effort was the amount of whistles. Palmer went into the bonus early into the second quarter, and again in the fourth.

Fortunately for head coach Paul Reid and the Moose, the Kardinals were less than perfect from the line, hitting on just nine of their 14 shots.

The Moose energized a methodically slow attack with a spark when senior Kendal Venzke took two steals coast-to-coast for buckets, putting the Moose up four, where they would stay for much of the game.

Offensive possessions in the first half for both teams took time off the clock more resembling football than basketball. Both teams were very evenly matched, counting on skill rather than overpowering amounts of speed, size or athleticism for success.

The Moose started the second half pushing a much faster pace. Though the speed changed, the results stayed much the same.

With just over two minutes left, Allie McGahan took the ball right over the heart of the Moose defense and off glass for the go-ahead basket for Kenai.

Palmer failed to cut the lead. And though it had not hurt them all game until the end, Palmer’s fouls finally came back to haunt them in the form of Carolyn Keifer hitting a pair to extend the Kardinals’ lead to four points.

Boys’ Basketball

Palmer 55, Kenai 27

Sean Niekamp scored 17 points to lead the Palmer Moose boys to victory over the Kenai Kardinals Friday. Palmer dominated the offensive boards as well as playing stifling defense to earn a lopsided 55-27 win.

Palmer ran its offensive sets to perfection, and when Kenai attempted to up the pace, the Moose also executed their fast break offense well.

Junior guard AJ Hull had his hands full on defense guarding Palmer senior point guard Christian Odom. While tasked with defending the experienced Odom, Hull only committed one foul.

While both Tyler and Shane Spalding tower over Moose center Niekamp, he had no problem going around, over and through the Kenai defense for offensive rebounds time and again.

Palmer defensive specialist Jackson Buresh chipped in 11 points.

Tyler Spalding finished with a team-high 10 points for the Kardinals.

Tim Rockey is a senior at Palmer High School who also writes for the Frontiersman’s Sports section.

Kenai girls 33, Palmer 31

Friday, Palmer High School

Kenai 4-11-7-10—33

Palmer 6-7-8-10—31

Kenai (33) — Wensley 4 5-7 13, Kiefer 2 4-4 8, M. Wensley 3 0-0 7, Dunlap 1 0-0 3, McGaham 1 0-1 2; Totals: 11 9-14 33.

Palmer (31) — Scott 4 0-0 10, Koehn 4 1-2 10, Venske 3 1-3 7, Blake 1 0-2 2, Braudenburg 1 0-0 2; Totals 13 2-7 31.

Palmer boys 55, Kenai 27

Friday, Palmer High School

Kenai 7-6-6-8—27

Palmer 13-16-17-9—55

Kenai (27) — Spalding 3 4-4 10, Hayes 2 0-0 4, Landry 1 2-2 4, Jull 2 1-10 5, Reilly 0 2-2 2, S. Spalding 1 0-0 2; Totals 9 9-19 27.

Palmer (55) — Neikamp 8 1-4 17, Buresh 4 2-2 11, Dean 3 0-0 8, Odom 2 0-0 4, Looney 2 0-0 4, Nisbett 1 2-4 4, Fullmer 2 0-0 5, Montgomery 1 0-1 2; Totals 23 5-11 55.