Palmer boys post big victory over rival

PALMER — It was a rough start to the 2010-11 season for the Palmer Moose.

Palmer dropped five of its first six games early in the year, and its Northern Lights Conference schedule began with back-to-back heartbreaking losses to rivals Wasilla and Colony.

But the Moose have battled through, and on Wednesday, Palmer got a sign that the work could be paying off.

Palmer used a 15-6 third-quarter run to grab a 59-42 win over rival Colony at Palmer High School.

“I think it’s a real big deal,” Palmer head coach Jason Marvel said of the win. “We didn’t play an easy schedule. We played a real tough schedule, and I think our guys are getting better. It was a total team effort tonight.”

Seniors Kevin Montgomery and Sean Niekamp each pulled down double-digit rebounds to help Palmer score the win and improve to 8-10 overall and 5-2 in NLC play.

Marvel said Palmer’s ability to rebound was key, Montgomery in particular.

“Kevin Montgomery stepped up brilliantly. He was phenomenal,” Marvel said of the forward, who finished with seven points and a game-high 11 rebounds. “I think this was his best game of the season. He just came to play tonight. That’s what good seniors do.”

Niekamp finished with 10 rebounds, but Colony held the all-conference forward to nine points. Colony head coach Tom Berg said the Colony coaching staff certainly has to keep a player like Niekamp in mind.

“With our size, Kenyon and the rest of our bigs did a great job (on Niekamp) tonight,” Berg said. “We have to account for him on every single possession.”

Palmer outrebounded Colony 32-19 in the win, and Berg agreed that was key.

“In the second half, we got beat a little bit on the glass, especially in the third quarter,” Berg said.

Palmer held a 20-14 lead at the half.

“It was a defensive brawl in the first half,” Marvel said. “We felt pretty good going into halftime and we just blew it open.”

Marvel said he felt like his defense contributed to its offense during the win, which contributed to the success, a 15-6 third-quarter run in particular.

“Jason does a great job with his guys. They were ready to play and we weren’t, especially offensively,” Berg said. “I thought we guarded OK, but for us not to be ready offensively, that’s my fault.”

Colony put together 22 points in the final quarter, but Palmer was able to stay ahead with 23 during the final frame. The Moose were also able to answer Colony’s big shots.

Early in the fourth, sophomore Hunter Eisenhower hit a three-pointer to cut Palmer’s lead to 35-23. But, almost immediately, Palmer sophomore Connor Looney hit a three-pointer of his own to push Palmer’s lead back to 15.

Looney led the Moose in scoring, netting all 14 of his points in the fourth quarter. Senior Christian Odom added 13. Junior Jared Turner scored a team-high 13 for Colony.

Palmer 59, Colony 42

Wednesday, Palmer High

Colony 6-8-6-22—42

Palmer 11-9-15-23—59

Colony (42) — Niver 1 0-3 3, Smith 1 0-0 2, Turner 4 4-4 13, McCann 2 1-2 5, Enloe 1 0-0 2, Eisenhower 3 1-2 8, Pelletier 1 0-1 2, DePriest 1 1-1 3, Umbarger 1 2-2 4; Totals: 15 9-15 42.

Palmer (59) — Odom 5 3-8 13, Looney 3 6-6 14, Sraight 2 4-4 9, Buresh 0 1-2 1, Montgomery 3 1-3 7, Niekamp 4 0-0 9, Fullmer 1 4-4 6; Totals: 18 20-29 59.

Three-point field goals: Colony 3 (3 with 1), Palmer 3 (Looney 2), Total fouls: Colony 26, Palmer 19,