Moose win in 2OT; will play for fourth

ANCHORAGE — It took two extra periods, but the Palmer Moose will see the final day of the 2012-13 season.

Senior Connor Looney capped a late six-point Palmer run with a steal and a basket to help the Moose avoid elimination and lead Palmer to a 62-57 double-overtime victory over the Thunder Mountain Falcons during the consolation semifinal round of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Basketball Championships at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

Thunder Mountain, which fell to Colony during the quarterfinals, took a 57-56 lead with 1 minute and 41 seconds left in the second overtime, but the Moose rebounded with the rally. Junior James Nisbett gave the lead right back to Palmer with a basket at the 1:21 mark, and senior Nathan Mayer hit a pair of free throws before Looney was able to ice the game with his late points.

Palmer and Thunder Mountain played to a 4-4 tie during the first extra period.

The Falcons led late in regulation, but Palmer senior Brian Selmer forced overtime, hitting a shot with 42 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Thunder Mountain had led by two possessions during the final minutes of the game. Ben Jahn hit a three-pointer to give the Falcons a 48-44 lead with 2:07 left in the fourth.

Selmer posted a double-double to lead the Moose, collecting 21 points and 10 rebounds. Looney added 15 points in the victory, and Nisbett chipped in 12. Senior Hayden Niekamp led the Moose with 13 rebounds.

With the win, Palmer moved into the bracket’s fourth-place game and will play Mid-Alaska Conference Champion Lathrop Saturday at 2 p.m. at UAA’s Wells Fargo Arena.

Palmer 62, Thunder Mountain 57 2OT

ASAA 4A boys consolation semifinals

Friday, Sullivan Arena

Thunder Mountain 12-13-12-11-4-5—57

Palmer 18-6-14-4-10—62

Thunder Mountain (57) — J. Tupou 2 0-1 4, Seymour 3 3-3 11, Calloway 2 0-0 5, Grussendorf 1 0-0 3, S. Jahn 2 0-0 4, V. Tupou 2 0-0 5, B. Jahn 8 7-17 25; Totals: 20 10-21 57.

Palmer (62) — Ramoth 1 0-0 2, Looney 6 3-7 15, Mayer 0 4-4 4, Christiansen 1 0-0 2, Nisbett 5 1-3 12, Selmer 7 6-7 21, Niekamp 2 2-4 6; Totals: 22 16-25 62.

Three-point field goals: Thunder Mountain (Seymour, B. Jahn 2), Palmer 2 (Nisbett, Selmer 1); Total fouls: Thunder Mountain 18, Palmer 16.