Moose boys edge Ketchikan

PALMER — Ketchikan rallied to erase a double-digit defense, but one of newest members of the Palmer varsity starting lineup helped the Moose hold on for a victory.

Junior Jared Hawkins, a first-year starter, hit a free-throw with 11 seconds left in regulation to provide the go-ahead point in Palmer’s 50-49 nonconference victory over Ketchikan Thursday night at Palmer High.

“It was good for him. He stepped up and made the shot he needed to make,” Palmer head coach Chuck Martin said of Hawkins.

It’s not the first time this season that Hawkins has come up big late in a game. Martin said during a recent trip to California, Hawkins drained a three-pointer in the final moments of a contest that helped Palmer win a game in the Hart Holiday Classic in Santa Clara, California. Hawkins is part of a Palmer varsity squad made up predominately by inexperienced players. The Moose return two starters, senior Payton Martin and junior Clayton Southwick, and reserves Donovan Eiman and Liam Hughes-Duffy, who saw limited action last season. But the remainder of the squad is basically new to the varsity level.

“I think Jared Hawkins has been a terrific surprise. He seems to have adapted to the pace of varsity basketball as apposed to junior varsity basketball,” Martin said.

The Hawkins free throw Thursday came after Ketchikan’s Jake Smith tied the score at 49. With his team trailing by three, Smith pulled up for a shot from beyond the arc and was fouled on the play with 34 seconds left in the fourth. Smith answered by draining all three attempts to tie the score. The free throws were part of a 12-point fourth quarter for the Ketchikan guard. Earlier in the quarter, Smith hit a trio of three-pointers to help Ketchikan erase a double-digit deficit.

Southwick scored a game-high 23 points in the victory, and helped Palmer build the big second-half lead. After trailing 13-9 in the first quarter, Palmer took a 26-22 lead into halftime. The Moose extended that lead in the third. Southwick scored eight of Palmer’s third-quarter points. Payton Martin also hit a pair of three-pointers during the quarter.

Palmer returns to the court Tuesday to face rival Colony at 7:30 p.m. at Colony High School. It’s the first Northern Lights Conference game of the season for both teams.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Palmer 50, Ketchikan 49

Thursday, Palmer High

Ketchikan 13-9-11-16—49

Palmer 9-17-16-8—50

Ketchikan (49) — M. Lee 6 3-5 17, Taylor 2 0-0 4, C. Lee 5 0-1 10, J. Smith 4 3-3 15, Bauer 1 1-1 3; Totals: 18 7-10 49.

Palmer (50) — Osiensky 1 1-2 4, Martin 3 1-2 10, Hawkins 1 1-2 3, Hughes-Duffy 3 0-0 6, Southwick 8 7-8 23, Eiman 2 0-0 4; Totals: 15 10-14 50.