Moose open basketball season with sweep at Eagle River

PALMER — Fueled by production behind the arc and at the line, Palmer opened the boys basketball season with a 60-41 nonconference win at Eagle River Thursday night.

All-state standout Clayton Southwick tipped off his senior year with a game-high 24 points in the win. Southwick hit a trio of threes, and was 7 of 11 from the free-throw line. Palmer hit seven threes in the win, and finished 15 of 21 from the stripe. Eagle River didn’t hit a three-pointer in the loss, and was just 5 for 8 from the line.

Dae Osiensky added 10 points in the loss, and hit a pair of three-pointers. Isaac Atkins and Joe Rankin also hit a shot from beyond the arc.

Palmer opened the game on an 18-6 run and capped the win with 23 fourth-quarter points.

The Palmer girls also had a big night from beyond the arc. Abrianna Busbey buried five of her team’s nine threes during a 55-32 win over Eagle River. Busbey scored a game-high 17 points. Kassidy Bowman added a pair of three-pointers and 15 points. Julia Benshetler scored five of her seven points to help Palmer jump to a 17-2 first-quarter lead.

Palmer boys 60, Eagle River 41

Thursday, Eagle River

Palmer 18-6-13-23—60

Eagle River 8-6-11-16—41.

Palmer (60) — Atkins 3 0-1 7, Osiensky 3 2-2- 10, Hawkins 0 2-2 2, Morfua 2 0-0 4, Ranin 1 2-2 5, Southwick 7 7-11 24, Oviok 1 2-3 4, Marshal 2 0-0 4; Totals: 19 15-21 60.

Eagle River (41) — Adkins 2 0-0 4, Capazzi 2 0-0 4, Thompson 2 1-1 5, Davis 5 3-5 13, Gonzalez 3 0-0 6, Piper 1 1-2 3, Rollman 3 0-0 6; Totals: 18 5-8 41.

3-point field goals: Palmer 7 (Southwick 3), Eagle River ; Total fouls: Palmer 10.

Palmer girls 55, Eagle River 32

Thursday, Eagle River

Palmer 17-12-19-7—55

Eagle River 2-8-7-15--32

Palmer (55) — Busbey 5 2-4 17, Pettingill 2 1-2 5, Uschmann 3 1-2 9, Toro 1 -1 2, Bowman 4 5-6 15, Benshetler 3 1-4 7; Totals: 28 20-29 55.

Eagle River (32) — Finley 3 10-11 16, Sharpe 1 0-0 2, Jensen 1 0-2 2, Perry 3 4-8 10, Harder 1 0-0 2; Totals: 9 14-21 32.

3-point field goals: Palmer 9 (Busbey 5) Eagle River 1 (Finley 1); Total fouls: Palmer 18, Eagle River 17.