Moose bounce state power in OT

WASILLA — Palmer and West Anchorage combined for 21 three-pointers Monday afternoon. But none were bigger than the shot Conner Looney drained during the final seconds of regulation.

The Palmer junior buried a three-pointer with mere seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 79, and the Moose outlasted West in the extra period of an 85-81 overtime win over the Eagles on the first day of the Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic at Wasilla High on Monday.

Palmer outscored West 13-9 in overtime, but it’s the big Looney basket and a smart play by senior Jackson Buresh that made it all possible.

Trailing by three as the final seconds ticked off the fourth-quarter clock, Palmer sent the ball inside to Buresh, who was wide open in the paint. Even though Buresh had nobody separating himself from the basket, he quickly kicked it out to Looney, who stood at the right side of the arc.

“That’s a big shot right there, but you’ve got to give props to Jackson. He understood the situation, he understood we needed a three-pointer,” Palmer head coach Jason Marvel said. “(Jackson) had a nice look at the basket, but he kicked it out to Connor.”

Buresh was stellar throughout, with 20 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, and that continued into overtime. The senior drew an early foul during the extra period and sank a pair of free throws to give Palmer the lead. After Brian Selmer hit one of his four three-pointers in the game, Buresh drove the lane and went untouched to the basket to score and give Palmer a seven-point advantage.

West was able to tie the game at 81 with 20 seconds left in overtime, but Buresh and Selmer were a combined 4 for 4 from the free-throw line down the stretch.

The Moose and Eagles, the 2010-11 4A state runners-up, traded leads back and fourth throughout the game. Palmer took a 39-35 lead into the break, and after West bounced back Palmer led 56-54 after three quarters.

West used a run to take a 66-64 lead with less than four minutes to play in regulation.

The Eagles were 12 for 31 from behind the arc in the game and hit five treys in the second half. Each seemed to answer a big Palmer shot.

Kendal Brown led all scores with 31 points. He nailed six three-pointers.

Selmer led the Moose with 28 points. Looney added 19 points and eight rebounds. Newcomer Thomas Matik collected 11 points and nine rebounds in his Palmer debut.

Overall, Marvel said it’s a great win for Palmer.

“For our program, it’s huge,” Marvel said. “I don’t know the last time Palmer beat West.”

West has played in the last two 4A state championship games and has won four titles since 2004.

Palmer 85, West Anchorage 81 OT

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Monday, Wasilla High School

West (81) — Nidoy 5 0-1 11, Privett 1 0-0 2, Norman 5 2-2 14, Cole 1 0-0 2, K. Brown 12 1-1 31, L. Brown 4 2-2 10, Gaines 1 0-0 2; Totals: 32 5-8 81

Palmer (85) — Looney 5 5-6 19, Ramouth 1 0-0 3, Straight 2 0-0 4, Buresh 7 6-7 20, Selmer 11 2-2 28; Totals: 30 16-19 85.

Three-point field goals: West 12 (K. Brown 6), Palmer 9 (Selmer 4); Total fouls: West 17, Palmer 15.