Moose bounce back, place 4th in boys' state tourney

ANCHORAGE — The Palmer Moose walked out of the locker room Thursday night, saddled with disappointment, following their first-round loss to the Dimond Lynx.

Saturday, those woes were lifted as an unburdened Palmer squad capped its season with a 48-37 victory over the Bartlett Golden Bears in the fourth-place game of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Basketball Championships.

“Obviously we’d love to be playing (Saturday night), but to win 25 games, win the league, I think it’s a great accomplishment for this group when it’s all said and done,” Palmer head coach Chuck Martin said by cellphone Saturday afternoon.

Palmer bounced back from the quarterfinal loss to the Lynx, with wins over West Valley and Bartlett on the consolation side of the bracket. In both games, Palmer used big fourth-quarter efforts to clinch the victory. Palmer closed the Bartlett game with a 20-10 fourth-quarter run, and outscored West Valley 19-5 in the fourth on Friday.

“To beat them like we did late is very satisfying,” Martin said. “We’ve challenged these guys with being resilient all year.”

Martin said the close-knit Palmer group has continued to bounce back throughout the season.

“They enjoy being together, getting to play one more game,” Martin said.

Senior Michael Kluting collected 23 points and 16 rebounds, both game highs, to lead Palmer to the win over Bartlett and help the Moose post their highest finish in a state tournament since Palmer placed fourth in 2004. It also marked the second straight double-double for Kluting, the Northern Lights Conference Player of the Year. Kluting tallied 29 points and 17 rebounds during a 45-36 victory over West Valley.

Saturday, Kluting and the Moose overcame a slow second. Bartlett used an 8-2 second-quarter run to take a 15-13 lead at halftime. Palmer outscored the Bears 15-12 in the third to take a one-point lead into the final quarter. The Moose buried Bartlett with a 20-10 run in the fourth.

“It was tied at 31, and we ended up winning by 12. I’m really proud of them,” Martin said.

Junior Liam Hughes-Duffy and sophomore Clayton Southwick added seven each for the six. Junior Payton Martin chipped in six.

The tourney marked the final weekend of prep basketball for Palmer’s three seniors — Kluting, Chase Ferris and Brady Southwick.

Friday, Palmer stayed alive in the boys’ bracket with a 45-36 victory over the West Valley Wolfpack at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Kluting shot 12 of 22 from the field, including 10 of 15 from inside the arc, en route to his 29-point effort. As a team, West Valley had only three more rebounds than Kluting.

The Moose trailed after three quarters, but capped the win with a 19-5 fourth-quarter run. The teams were tied at 15 at halftime, and West Valley led 31-26 after three quarters.

Southwick added eight points in the victory.

The Moose defense held West Valley to 4 of 21 shooting from three-point range.

Daniel Hornbuckle led West Valley with a dozen.

The match featured a pair of conference champions. Palmer won the Northern Lights and West Valley captured the mid-Alaska title.

“I have a lot of satisfaction with this group. It’s been a ton of fun, and I’m really disappointed it’s over. It’s always sad for me when it’s over, but this group has been a ton of fun to coach,” Martin said.

Bartlett spoiled any hope of an all-Valley fourth-place game with a 63-47 win over Wasilla earlier in the morning.

Bartlett broke the game open with a 26-10 second-quarter run. The teams were tied at 12 at the end of the first quarter.

Junior Isaac Houck led Wasilla with 12 points in the loss. Junior Kobe Brown and freshman Daniel Headdings added 10 points each. Houck also pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

Kage Freelove and Latravlaus Kingsland led the Golden Bears with 14 points each. Bentiu Panoam added 13 for Bartlett.

In the girls’ consolation semifinals, East Anchorage eliminated Colony with a 61-47 win over the Knights.

Senior Chase Stephens capped her prep basketball career with a team-high 17 points. Sophomore Alex Carlton added 11.

Palmer 48, Bartlett 37

4A boys’ fourth-place game

Saturday, Anchorage

Bartlett 7-8-12-10—37

Palmer 11-2-15-20—48

Bartlett (37) — Panoam 4 2-2 12, Freelove 0 1-2 1, Kingsland 2 2-4 6, Camacho 0 4-4 4, Trailer 3 0-0 8, Falaniko 3 0-0 6; Totals: 12 9-12 37.

Palmer (48) — Hughes-Duffy 3 1-2 7 Martin 2 1-2 6, Ferris 0 2-4 2, Witz 1 1-2 3, Southwick 2 1-1 7, Kluting 8 4-5 23; Totals; 16 10-16 48.

Palmer 45, West Valley 36

4A boys’ consolation semifinals

Friday, Anchorage

West Valley 7-8-16-5—36

Palmer 5-10-11-19—45

West Valley (36) — Kinsey 4 0-0 11, Mingo 1 0-0 2, Winfrey 1 0-2 2, Garcia 1 0-0 3, Burgess 1 0-0 2, Joyner 2 0-0 4, Hornbuckle 6 0-0 12; Totals: 14 2-4 36.

Palmer (45) — Hughes-Duffy 1 0-0 2, Martin 1 0-0 2, Ferris 1 0-0 2, Witz 1 0-0 2, Southwick 3 2-2 8, Kluting 12 3-5 29; Totals: 19 5-7 45.

Bartlett 63, Wasilla 47

4A boys’ consolation semifinals

Friday, Anchorage

Wasilla 12-10-14-11—47

Bartlett 12-26-13-12—63

Wasilla (47) — Brown 3 1-2 10, Headdings 3 2-4 10, Devine 2 3-4 7, Houck 4 4-4 13, Milliron 2 1-2 8; Totals: 16 11-16 47.

Bartlett (63) — Panoam 6 0-0 13, Freelove 4 3-4 14, Kingsland 5 1-2 14, Camacho 2 0-0 5, Trailer 2 0-0 4, Falaniko 3 0-0 8, Baranier 1 0-0 2, Falaniko 1 1-2 3; Totals: 22 5-10 63.

East Anchorage 61, Colony 47

4A girls’ consolation semifinals

Friday, Anchorage

Colony 13-11-5-18—47

East 14-16-19-12—61

Colony (47) — A. Smith 3 1-2 7, Clary 1 1-2 3, Stephens 7 1-1 17, Steiner 1 0-4 2, Carlton 5 3-4 16, E. Smith 1 0-0 2; Totals: 18 6-13 47.

East (61) — Villerreal 2 0-1 5, Jordan 1 0-0 2, Joubert 1 0-0 2, Robinson 3 1-4 7, Kidder 6 0-2 14, Richard 2 0-1 4, Voliva 4 5-7 15, Houser 1 2-4 4, Hines 1 6-7 8; Totals: 21 14-26 61.