Lathrop free throws stifle Moose boys

ANCHORAGE — An obviously disappointed Palmer boys' basketball team sat quietly in the locker room after losing 89-82 to the Lathrop Malamutes Saturday. They reflected on their season.

"We didn't finish the season the way we wanted to finish," coach Brandon Blake said, choking back his tears. "The fans that were here got a treat. We had a hell of a season, guys. Walk out of here with your heads held high."

Blake and his assistant coach, Butch Ehmann, tried to comfort a team that kept Valley fans on the edge of their seats all season. For the Moose athletes, the Alaska State Basketball loss to the Malamutes in the fourth-place game was especially hard to swallow because they knew the game could have gone either way. The contest was a tossup until the final 30 seconds, when Lathrop won the game on free throws.

"It's not all about basketball, guys," Ehmann told the players. "You are all model citizens, good students. That means a lot to us."

The Moose and the Malamutes lit up the rack in a game that saw furious comebacks by both teams, and the two Palmer coaches tried to put everything in perspective during the team's last post-game lecture of the season.

"All of you represented your community in an exemplary manner," Blake said. "Those of you that have been role players . . . unbelievable."

Palmer ended up the season in sixth place after they advanced to the Alaska state tournament, finishing as runner up to the eventual state champion Kodiak Bears in the Region III, 4A Tournament.

The third-seeded Moose lost to the Dimond Lynx in Thursday's contest, 70-60, which dropped them into the consolation bracket against the Soldotna Stars on Friday. The Moose rebounded to hammer the Stars 61-46 and advanced to the fourth-place game against the Malamutes.

Lathrop's all-tournament player Norman Edwards helped the Malamutes roar out to a 20-16 lead with eight first-quarter points, but the Moose answered by ripping off 23 points to take a 37-33 lead into the half-time break.

C.J. Hooker and Zac Forsyth combined for 54 points, but the Malamute bench outscored Palmer's subs 28-3. Lathrop's Ivan Snowden hit 12 of those points going four for four in free throws down the stretch.

The Malamutes extended their 60-56 lead to six points early in the fourth frame, but the Moose hit the floor with hot feet, going on a 9-0 run to take a 72-71 lead. But the Malamutes persevered and came back with their own 8-2 run to regain the lead, 81-74, with just over one minute to go.

Hooker danced through the Malamute paint for two of his 29 points and Zac Forsyth nailed three-point play to close within 83-81 after Snowden missed a jam with 30 seconds to go. But Lathrop finished on four last-minute free throws by David Hall and Watts to extend their lead as the clock ran down. They nipped the Moose 87-81.

For the coaches, Palmer's season wasn't all about winning.

"What it's all about is that you guys have developed as a team," Ehmann said. "It all came from senior leadership. You're all equal parts. Just keep things in perspective, guys. Basketball is not what it's all about. But when you put the uniform on for 32 minutes, then it's time to play."