Knights pressure Palmer, post win

PALMER — During its six-game Northern Lights Conference winning streak, it was the Palmer post players who paced the Moose.

And on Tuesday, Palmer’s presence in the paint helped the Moose post the early lead.

But ultimately, it was Colony’s pressure that helped the Knights prevail.

Colony held the Moose to just two shots from the field — a pair of fourth-quarter buckets — to record the 40-37 come-from-behind victory over the Moose at Palmer High School on Tuesday.

Palmer senior forwards Jake Hillis and Mitch Swetzof combined for 10 first-quarter points to push the Moose to the early 14-7 lead, but the duo was held to just a basket each in the second half.

“Their bigs hurt us in the first half,” Colony head coach Jeff Bowker said. “Their bigs are good — Mitch and Hillis. They just play so hard. They’re always on tipping the ball, and they’re just a little bit longer than us.”

Led by Hillis and Swetzof, the Moose did much of their damage in the first half. Hillis scored eight of his team-high 11 in the first.

Sophomore Trey Fullmer and junior Kyle Titus hit three-pointers early in the second quarter to help the Moose hold on to their lead.

“A couple of those subs came in and hit those big threes,” Bowker said. “That caused some issues.”

But late in the second quarter, the Knights were able to chew back into the game.

Colony senior Bryce Jacobson used a late layup to cap a 7-2 run late in the half, and the Knights trailed by just a bucket going into the intermission.

Colony junior John Palmer scored six of his game-high 13 points in the third quarter and senior Bryce Jacobson added nine points to help Colony improve to 6-2 in NLC play.

“In the second half, I thought they guys who are supposed to do it, started playing a lot better,” Bowker said.

Neither team led by more than four in the second half, but after senior Tim Gray hit a floater early in the fourth, the Knights never trailed.

Palmer stayed within reach of the Knights and had the potential to tie the game late.

After senior Chris Scott gave the Knights a three-point lead with a free throw with 23 seconds left in regulation, Palmer set up the three-point shot. Titus’ attempt from the corner bounced off the backboard to the free throw line. Palmer’s Christian Odom and Colony’s Collin Murphy scrambled for the ball, and Murphy attempted to grab possession as time expired.

Following the final buzzer, referees conferred, and opted to call Murphy with the travel and put 1.8 seconds back on the clock.

Palmer tried to run a play for Fullmer, but the sophomore was unable to get a clear shot at the basket.

Palmer dropped to 6-2 in NLC with a loss that snapped its six-game NLC streak. The Moose and Knights are now tied sitting a game behind Wasilla (7-3) in the NLC North Division standings.

Both teams end regular-season play against Soldotna and Kenai this weekend. Palmer hosts Soldotna tonight and Kenai Saturday. Kenai is at Colony High tonight, while Soldotna visits the Knights on Saturday.

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

Colony 40, Palmer 37

Tuesday, Palmer High School

Colony 7-15-10-8—40

Palmer 14-10-7-6—37

Colony (40) — Gray 1 0-0 2, Lanners 1 1-2 3, Palmer 4 4-6 13, Scott 2 1-2 5, Jacobson 4 1-2 9, Murphy 2 0-0 4, Summers 2 0-0 4; Totals: 16 7-12 40.

Palmer (37) — Fullmer 1 2-2 5, Titus 1 0-0 3, Hillis 5 1-2 11, Swetzof 2 1-2 5, Bohman 1 3-4 5, Niekamp 2 0-0 4, Odom 1 2-4 4; Totals: 13 9-14 37.

Three-point field goals: Colony 1 (Palmer 1), Palmer 2 (Fullmer, Titus 1); Total fouls: Colony 15, Palmer 16; Fouled out: none.