Palmer boys win Elks Showdown

The Palmer Moose boys basketball team started the 2024-25 season with three wins and a title at the Craig Jung tournament in Kenai in December. The Moose followed with three more victories and the title of their own tourney.

Palmer beat Homer, Soldotna and Juneau-Douglas and won the Palmer Elks Showdown over the weekend at Palmer High School.

The Moose improved to 6-0 with a 66-64 win over Juneau-Douglas on Saturday. Palmer outscored the Crimson Bears 14-12 during the final eight minutes. The teams were locked in a tie at the end of each of the first three quarters.

Lukas Owen scored five of his 11 points during the fourth, and hit a key three-pointer during the final quarter. KJ Henry had four points in the fourth.

Henry led all scorers with 20. Nolan Garner added 12. Logan Johnson finished with 10.

The Moose jumped to a 25-2 first-quarter lead Friday, and stormed to a 75-41 win over Soldotna.

Johnson drained a trio of threes on the first and Logan Rolston scored eight of his 13 points in the opening quarter. Garner led Palmer with 18. Owen also scored 13.

Palmer started its tourney with a 78-61 victory over Homer. Rolston led Palmer with 17. Garner added 16 and Owen chipped in 15.

The Palmer girls finished 2-1 in the tournament.

Jasmine Hephner led the Moose to a 48-37 victory over West Valley. Presley Wright added 11. Palmer scored 22 of its points in the third quarter.

The Moose also beat Homer 77-46. Wright led Palmer with 17. Kaelyn Downey had 16. Hephner finished with 15. Palmer scored at least 20 in each of the final three quarters.

Service opened the weekend with a 73-46 win over Palmer.

Loren Nichols led Palmer with 13.

Garner was named the tournament’s boys MVP. Owen and Rolston were named all-tournament. Wright, Hephner and Lily Muilenburg were named all-tourney for the Palmer girls.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.