Palmer boys finish 3rd in Dimond tourney

PALMER — The Palmer Moose used a win over a conference to earn a third-place finish in the Alaska Prep Shootout.

Thanks in part to a big fourth quarter, Palmer scored a 59-37 victory over Kenai Central in the tournament’s third-place game Saturday at Dimond High School. Clayton Southwick and Payton Martin supplied 19 points each for the Moose during the win. Both were named all-tournament.

Palmer led 30-18 at halftime, and iced the game with an 18-9 fourth-quarter run.

With the win, Palmer rebounded from a 65-59 semifinal loss to East Anchorage. The Thunderbirds, who went on to beat host Dimond in the final Saturday night, scored 33 first-quarter points against the Moose. Despite East’s big first quarter, Palmer stayed in the game, allowing the T-Birds only six points in the second quarter and seven in the third. Southwick led the team with 21 points against East.

Thursday, Southwick hit the game-winning basket with about 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Moose a 45-44 win over Thunder Mountain during the first round of the tournament at Dimond High School in Anchorage. Southwick scored a team 14 points on 6 of 9 shooting to help Palmer advance to the semifinals, where it will face East Anchorage Friday at 6 p.m. Donovan Eiman added 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting.

Palmer 59, Kenai Central 37

Alaska Prep Shootout

Saturday, Dimond High school

Kenai 12-6-10-9—37

Palmer 13-17-11-18—59

Palmer (59) — Marshall 1 0-0 3, Martin 5 5-6 19, Hawkins 1 0-0 2, Hughes-Duffy 4 1-2 9, Southwick 7 3-5 19, Eiman 6 2-4 6, Cutright 0 1-2 1; Totals: 20 12-19 59.

Kenai (37) — Beeson 1 0-2 2, Beiser 5 4-6 14, Landry 3 0-0 7, Jackman 5 1-2 13, Felchle 0 1-2 1; 14 6-12 37.

3-point field goals: Kenai 3 (Jackman 2), Palmer 7 (Martin 5); Total fouls: Kenai 12, Palmer 13.

East Anchorage 65, Palmer 59

Alaska Prep Shootout

Friday, Dimond High School

East 33-6-7-19—65

Palmer 12-17-13-17—59

East (65) — Huckabay 7 0-0 17, Beardon 1 0-0 2, Esaw 4 4-5 14, Miller 5 3-3 14, Washburn 2 1-4 5, Toleafoa 5 0-2 11; Totals: 25 8-14 65.

Palmer (59) — Osiensky 0 2-2 2, Martin 5 0-0 13, Hughes-Duffy 4 2-2 10, Southwick 9 3-4 21, Eiman 6 1-3 13; Totals: 24 8-13 65.

3-point field goals: East 7 (Huckabay 3), Palmer 3 (Martin 3); Total fouls: East 20, Palmer 15

Palmer 45, Thunder Mountain 44

Alaska Prep Shootout

Thursday, Dimond High School

Palmer (45) — Osiensky 2 0-0 4, Martin 2 2-2 8, Hughes-Duffy 3 0-0 6, Southwick 6 2-4 14, Eiman 5 0-0 10, Halbert 1 0-0 3; Totals: 16 4-6 45.

Thunder Mountain (44) — Saviers 5 1-2 16, Reishus-O’Brien 4 2-2 13, Clark 4 0-0 10, McAndrews 2 0-0 5; Totals: 15 3-4 45.