Palmer girls basketball squad deep on talent

Dec. 19, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - Paul Reid, the head coach of the Palmer High School girls' basketball squad, looked like the leader of a hockey team making line changes during the Palmer Elks Showdown, sending entire fleets of players onto the court at any given time.

Reid said he does not anticipate being a &#8220platoon subber,” once the Moose charge into their Northern Lights Conference schedule. But he does know he has some incredible depth at his disposal.

&#8220This is a deep team, I could go five deep, maybe six, and not have a big fall off on the level of play on the court,” Reid said. &#8220I've never had that luxury.”

Reid's team is also experienced. Six players have at least two years at the varsity level. Even more amazing is the fact that group includes only one senior, forward Stephanie Houser.

The deep and experienced Palmer squad is junior heavy. Ashley Swetzof, Sarah Svedin, Mattie Cox, Nicole Kenney and Geneva Ratcliff are each starting their third season of varsity

basketball.

Juniors Amy Tzou, Katie Stratton and Sunni Danielowski are in their first season of full-time varsity ball.

&#8220The junior class is just phenomenal,” Reid said. &#8220I've never seen anything like it.”

Reid also has a trio of sophomores who could figure into the action - guards Kelsey Campbell, Juliana Mangelsdorf and Mikaela Bolling.

That surplus of talent does not only ensure Reid a deep bench, but the Moose a competitive practice each day they hit the court.

&#8220The practices can be as tough as game situations if you make it that way,” Reid said. &#8220Because of our depth we have the ability to make each other better in practice. Not a lot of teams have that game intensity in practice every day. It's going to make some games feel easy compared to practice.”

That ability to be more competitive in practice could prove to be key as Palmer embarks on the toughest schedule the Moose have seen during the Reid era.

Next week, Palmer is slated to compete in the Capital City Classic in Juneau. There the Moose will play Juneau-Douglas, always one of the top teams in the 49th state, as well as a pair of teams from outside of Alaska. In January, Palmer will play in the East Thunderbird Classic, another historically tough tournament.

Last spring when the Palmer administration was putting together the schedule for the 2006-07 season, Reid stressed his desire to play in the tough tournaments.

The Northern Lights Conference is expected to be extremely tough this season, and Reid said he wanted to do whatever he could do to prepare for the difficult region schedule.

&#8220In 11 years being involved with girls basketball, I've never seen a conference so deep across the board,” Reid said.

The three Valley squads - Palmer, Wasilla and Colony - could be as tough as anyone in the region.

&#8220Not to discredit any of the teams in the South (Division), but the three Valley teams will be extremely tough,” Reid said.

Wasilla, the defending champs; Colony, a team full of young talent; and Palmer could all be region champs. Homer, Kodiak and Soldotna are also expected to be in the mix.

For Palmer to rise to the top of the heap, the Moose will do it with their depth and

defense.

&#8220Defense,” Reid said. &#8220For me, that's where it all starts.”

In the championship game of the Palmer Elks Showdown on Saturday, Palmer nearly held North Pole scoreless for the entire first half. The Patriots finally got their first bucket of the game, with three minutes to go in the second quarter.

Reid said the focus is on defense, and success on that side of the court will translate into his team's offensive game.

Palmer's personnel suits Reid's philosophies. Reid said players such as Houser, Ratcliff, Swetzof and Kenney bring a lot of strength to the front court. Guards such as Cox bring a ton of speed to the back court.

On the offensive end, Reid said, the Moose should boast a balanced attack.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.