Retiring teacher, coach urges Colony grads to ‘find their 68’
By Jeremiah Bartz Frontiersman.com A football coach using a hockey reference as the centerpiece for his keynote address may
PALMER — Isaac Atkins hit only one shot Thursday night. But it was the biggest of the game.
Atkins buried a three-pointer in overtime to lift Palmer to a 43-42 boys basketball victory over Grace Christian, the defending 3A state champions, at Palmer High School.
In a game that featured two of the top players in the state at any level, reigning 3A Player of the Year Tobin Karlberg scored a game-high 26 points for the Grizzles. Senior Clayton Southwick, a first-team 4A all-state selection as a junior, led the Moose with 18.
Karlberg scored all 15 of his team’s points in the fourth quarter to help the Grizzlies force overtime. Southwick buried four three-pointers in the win.
In girls’ action, Palmer, sparked by a 20-point first quarter, earned a 64-43 over Grace.
Abrianna Busbey hit a trio of three-pointers and scored a team-high 18 points. Kassidy Bowman added 11 for the Moose.
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Palmer 43, Grace Christian 42 OT
Thursday, Palmer High School
Grace 11-5-9-15-2—42
Palmer 5-12-9-14-3—43
Grace (42) ¬— Goforth 1 0-0 3, Ji. McGovern 3 1-2 7, Karlberg 8 8-10 26, Ebi 1 4-7 6; Totals: 13 13-19 42.
Palmer (43) — Atkins 1 0-0 3, Titus 1 0-0 3, Hawkins 2 1-2 6, Rankin 1 5-6 7, Southwick 5 4-7 18, Oviok 1 0-0 3, Helm 0 1-2 1, R. Marshall 1 0-0 2; Totals: 12 11-17 43.
3-point field goals: Palmer 8 (Southwick 4), Grace 3 (Karlberg); Total fouls: Grace 16, Palmer 16.
Palmer girls 64, Grace Christian 43
Thursday, Palmer High School
Grace 7-17-9-10—43
Palmer 20-13-12-19—64
Grace (43) — Binder 7 8-13 22, Markel 2 2-4 7, Osborne 0 2-7 2, Salima 5 0-0 10, Gamez 1 0-0 2; Totals: 15 12-24 43.
Palmer (64) — Busbey 6 3-3 18, Puttingill 1 0-0 2, Uschmann 2 0-2 5, S. Benshetler 0 1-2 1, Toro 1 0-0 2, Bowman 4 2-2 11, Giese 2 1-5 5, Lundin 1 0-0 2, J. Benshetler 3 2-4 8, Sutton 2 0-0 4, Alley 3 0-0 6: Totals: 24 9-18 64.
3-point field goals: Grace 1 (Markel 1)l Palmer 5 (Busbey 3); Total fouls: Grace 14, Palmer 21.