Moose girls net win over Knights

PALMER -- It just was not going to happen to the Moose a third time.

The Palmer girls' basketball squad had fallen just short to a pair of the top squads in the state in the last two weeks. Palmer suffered a two-point overtime loss to third-ranked Soldotna and the second-ranked Chugiak Mustangs defeated the Moose by a buzzer-beater a week later.

The third time was the charm for the Moose. Palmer edged its crosstown rival Colony Knights 38-36 at Palmer High School last Friday.

Amy Chapman scored five points for the Moose in the final two minutes of regulation. Chapman hit a pivotal three-pointer with two minutes to go and drained a pair of free throws in the final seconds of the game.

"Our players stepped up, Amy was huge," Palmer head coach Lyle Busbey said. "I saw a different team out there tonight. There was a different look in their eyes. They were in control."

The losses to Soldotna and Chugiak lingered in the minds of the Moose players throughout the week. Busbey noted that the Moose focused on the pressure situations and the two-minute drill in practice.

"We worked on that all week," Busbey said. "We practiced it over and over."

The Moose, who have been known for their stifling defense all year, continue to frustrate their opponents. Palmer held Colony to just nine points per quarter and more importantly were able to shut down Kristina Klapperich, one of the top scoring players in the state.

Klapperich, who burned the Moose for 26 points and three treys in Colony's 60-51 win over the Moose in January, was held to just eight points in the game. Klapperich did not hit a three-pointer and was kept away from the free throw line.

To keep Colony's high scoring wing off the scoresheet, Busbey enlisted Palmer guard Emily Bolling to take on the task of guarding Klapperich.

"Bolling neutralized Klapperich," Busbey said. "It forced others to try to score."

"We saw that the last time we played Colony," Busbey added. "We put Emily on her toward the end of the game and she neutralized her. She had to fight for every point."

"Their defense impresses me overall," Colony mentor Don Witzel said. "They are patient on offense and a very solid defensive team."

The Moose were also able to notch the key rebounds on both the offensive and defensive sids of the court. Keisha Hooker led the Moose attack on the glass with 14 rebounds.

"Keisha is only 5-6, but she was ripping down rebounds," Busbey said.

The Knights were able to build an early lead in the loss. Colony led 9-7 at the end of the first quarter and 18-12 late in the first half. Palmer went on a 6-0 run in the final 2:20 of the second quarter to tie the game.

Chrissy Lien hit a jumper and a pair of free throws to cut the score to 18-16. Bolling sunk a jumper to tie the score at 18-18.

Palmer went on an 8-4 run early in the second half to create a cushion between the two teams.

Bolling led the Moose with 11 points. Lien, Chapman and Toni Cox each added seven points. Hooker scored six points.

Malorie Eggers led the Knights with 12 points.