NLC consolation: Palmer boys 44, Skyview 21

SOLDOTNA — It wasn't pretty, but the Palmer boys kept their state tournament hopes alive with a 44-21 win over the host Panthers at Skyview High in Soldotna.

Palmer scored just 13 points in the first half, yet still held an eight-point lead over the woeful Panthers, who were outscored 116-43 in two lopsided tournament losses.

The Moose were led by 11 points from Sean Niekamp, who scored six points in the fourth quarter as Palmer pulled away. Brennan Bohman added eight points, Kevin Montgomery had six and Kyle Titus and Christian Odom had five each.

Chad Oakes scored seven points to lead Skyview.

The victory moved Palmer into Saturday's 10:45 a.m. consolation round game against the loser of Friday afternoon's Colony-Soldotna match-up.

PALMER 44, SKYVIEW 21

Palmer 6 7 13 18 – 44

Skyview 3 2 6 10 – 21

PALMER (44) – Fullmer 0 0-2 0, Titus 2 0-0 5, Straight 0 1-3 1, Peltier 1 0-0 2, Brown 0 4-6 4, Buresh 1 0-0 2, Bohman 4 0-0 8, Montgomery 2 2-4 6, Niekamp 4 3-5 11, Odom 2 1-2 5. Totals – 16 11-22 49.

SKYVIEW (21) – Reynolds 1 0-0 2, White 2 0-2 2, Malatesta 0 1-2 1, Jones 1 2-3 4, Harvey 2 0-0 4, McDonald 0 1-2 1, Oakes 2 2-6 7. Totals – 7 5-15 21.

3-point field goals – Palmer 1 (Titus), Skyview 1 (Oakes). Fouled out – none. Total fouls – 14, Skyview 17.