Moose girls net wins in California

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

Before the Palmer Moose girls' basketball squad took the court to compete in the Granite Hills Sportland Festival in San Diego, Calif., Moose head coach Paul Reid thought Palmer could realistically earn a split of four guaranteed games in the 16-team tourney.

But now the Moose have the opportunity to return to Alaska with three wins against California schools. With a 62-48 win over Central Union High School, Palmer advanced to the consolation final of the holiday hoops event.

&#8220I'm really pretty happy right now,” Reid said by phone Thursday as the Moose were preparing to face Mission Hills High School in a match for fourth place. &#8220I'd like to come home 3-1. It'd be a nice confidence booster.”

Palmer used its win over Central Union and a 53-40 victory over Monte Vista High School on the consolation side of the bracket to advance to the fourth-place game. The Moose dropped a tough 40-32 decision to Fallbrook High School in the first round.

&#8220With the exception of the first quarter, the first night, I've been pretty pleased,” Reid said.

The Moose faced Fallbrook after a long night of travel to Southern California. Fallbrook outscored Palmer 12-2 in the first quarter, and that proved to be the difference. Reid said the Moose outscored Fallbrook in the second and the fourth quarters, and there was just a one-point difference between the two squads in the third quarter. Going into the tournament, Fallbrook was considered one of the better teams in the field, Reid said.

Stephanie Houser led with the Moose with 12 points and nine rebounds in the loss. Cambria Houtte added eight points.

Houtte paced a balanced scoring attack, scoring 11 points in the win over Monte Vista.

Sophomore Geneva Ratcliff scored 16 to lead the Moose to a win over Central Union.

&#8220She had a bust-out game,” Reid said. &#8220She's had a lot of touches and a lot of opportunities to score, but had been having a really hard time finishing around the basket. It was a real breakout game for her.”

Sarah Svedin led the Moose outside attack scoring all 15 of her points from behind the arc.

&#8220She's definitely our best outside threat,” Reid said. &#8220If she's got a nice catch and look to the basket, she's definitely a high percentage shooter.”

Svedin finished 5-of-8 from three-point range.

Reid said a couple of significant differences in style and philosophy have allowed the Moose to see a good amount of success in the California tourney.

The schools in that area play with no 10-second backcourt violation rule, but have a 30-second shot clock. Reid said the difference is rules is favorable to the Moose guards, who like to put a lot of pressure on the opponent.

&#8220Their guards are not used to taking that much pressure,” Reid

said.

There also seems to be a difference in the level of discipline on the floor, he said. That seems to give the tournament a varied level of talent and competition.

&#8220There are some teams that are very good athletically, but are pretty undisciplined,” Reid said.

The Palmer boys are also competing in the Sportland Festival. The Moose suffered a heart-breaking 69-67 overtime loss to Valhalla (Calif.) in the opening game.

Palmer had a double-digit lead going into the final minutes of the game, but Valhalla was able to climb back in. Palmer played three games in the consolation bracket, winning

one.