Moose start season with win over two-time defeding 3A state champs

PALMER — Heading into the season with a team that includes only four players with any significant playing time at the varsity level, Palmer head coach Paul Reid is still trying to figure out how all of the new athletes fit into the Palmer game plan.

On Tuesday, a pair of underclassmen caught Reid’s attention.

Sophomore Kasara Brandenburg and freshman Taylor Blake combined for 18 second-half points to lead the Moose to a 51-7 nonconference win over the two-time defending 3A state champions Anchorage Christian School Lions at Palmer High School.

“That was real exciting. Early in the season, you’re not quite sure who will fit into what role,” Reid said. “It’s refreshing to see young kids stepping up at tough moments.”

Brandenburg scored eight of Palmer’s 12 third-quarter points and Blake scored all eight of her points during the final two quarters to lead the Moose to the victory in the season-opener for both squads.

“They made a big impact there,” Reid said.

Senior Shawn Thein produced a team-high 13, and senior Jaimi Cox chipped in nine.

Debbey Simmers led ACS with a game-high 22.

The spark provided by the underclassmen was key to the Moose win. Palmer led by seven points after the first quarter and pushed that advantage to nine in the second, but the Lions used a late first-half rally to come back and tie the score at 21 before the half.

“They switched up their (defense) and slowed down the pace,” Reid said.

Late in the second half, Palmer, once again, led by as much as nine. But ACS battled back and cut Palmer’s lead to three points with 90 seconds left.

Junior Kendal Venzke hit a pair of free throws to seal the win for the Moose.

“It was a real rubber band match,” Reid said.

Palmer was scheduled to play East Anchorage Thursday in Anchorage, but the game was canceled.

Mat-Su School District officials decided to cancel trips to Anchorage for extracurricular activities due to poor road conditions caused by recent storms, Palmer High activities director Jeff Thiede confirmed Thursday afternoon.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Palmer 51, ACS 47

Tuesday, Palmer High School

ACS 6-15-11-15—47

Palmer 13-8-12-18—51

ACS (47) — Rupkema 1 2-2 5; Madren 2 0-0 4; Simmers 8 6-6 22; Echenwaler 0 1-2 1; Bennett 2 0-0 4; Leach 1 2-2 4; Erhardt 2 3-4 7; Totals 15 14-16 47.

Palmer (51) — Cox 4 1-2 9; VanHoomisen 0 0-2 0; Venzke 2 2-4 6; LaMere 0 2-2 2; Thein 6 1-3 15; Koehn 1 0-1 2; Blake 3 1-2 8; Brandenburg 4 3-5 11; Totals: 19 10-21 51.

3-point field goals: ACS 1 (Rupkema 1), Palmer 1 (Blake 1); Total fouls: ACS 20, Palmer 16; Fouled out: none.